Intrigues

by Sharon Green

  Edmin fervently hoped so, but there wasn't enough time to dwell on the hope. Their coach pulled up in front of the very large house, and once both coaches had stopped it was time to get things done.

  They had brought eleven servants with them, and seven of the eleven had had to travel in the second coach. With someone sitting on the coach floor the space had been extremely crowded, but no one had seriously expected Edmin and his father to share their coach. The two drivers - and the one servant sitting with each on the boxes - climbed down to help everyone get out, but having Embisson stand around for too long a time wasn't wise.

  For that reason Edmin took the first two female servants helped out of the coach, and told them to go inside the house with his father. He also gave them the small stable lamp he'd had the foresight to include with their luggage, and once the lamp was lit Embisson was able to lead the two women inside.

  After making sure that his father was indeed gone, Edmin then gathered the remaining servants and explained that his father was suffering from the pressure of events that had upset him greatly. For that reason any orders given by Embisson that might lead to their discovery in the house was first to be cleared with Edmin. The servants seemed more relieved than surprised at the order, leading Edmin to believe that they'd noticed his father's oddness even before he did.

  After that it took only a moment to send three of the men to brush out their trail, and the rest to see to hiding the coaches and horses. The other two women were sent into the house with instructions to pass on his orders about not listening to his father to the first two women once it was possible to get the women alone. All the servants had been told that if Embisson and Edmin were caught, they would be tried and imprisoned along with their employers. The servants now believed that everyone in Gan Garee had gone crazy, and none of them cared to risk prison to find out if they'd been told the truth.

  Dinner was a quick and simple affair, after which Embisson took a lamp and retired to the rooms which had been Zolind Maylock's. Dust covers had been removed from the furniture and clean linen had been found in storage chests, and all the necessary beds were ready to be used.

  But Edmin couldn't retire yet despite what he'd said to his father in the coach. Embisson had given private instructions to the leaders of their guardsmen, which presumably meant the guardsmen would know where to find them. The entire force was supposed to be in the city well before midnight, and the leaders were supposed to report as soon as they arrived. Those leaders also needed to be told about taking orders from his father, so Edmin waited up to take care of the matter.

  A book kept Edmin company - and kept him awake - for quite some time, but then sleep managed to creep over him. Edmin dozed for a time, waking up and falling back asleep, and then the sound of a footstep and the gleam of a lamp woke Edmin all the way. He sat up to see his father entering the room, a frown on the old man's face.

  "Edmin, it's four in the morning," Embisson announced with disapproval. "I got up to get a drink of water, and saw the light of your lamp. Why haven't you gone to bed yet?"

  "I was waiting for the leaders of our men to report," Edmin answered with a frown of his own. "You did tell them where we were going, didn't you, Father?"

  "Of course I did," Embisson responded, annoyance quickly turning to disturbance. "They should have had no trouble getting into the city, so why haven't they arrived yet?"

  "There are only three possibilities," Edmin said slowly, a nasty thought coming to him. "They could have been caught coming in and are under arrest, but that isn't very likely since they weren't all coming in at the same time or place. They could have decided to start an enterprise of their own, but that isn't very likely either. They're not so dim that they would give up the promise of wealth and position for a quick hit and run attack."

  "No, they knew well enough that their best chance lay in cooperating with us," Embisson said, disturbance now growing stronger. "So what could have happened to them?"

  "The third possibility," Edmin answered in a growl as he stood, much too tired to play games of false politeness. "Noll somehow got to them, he and that wife of his. It was our gold that paid those men, so their loyalty should have been ours. I told you that woman was up to something, but you insist on thinking of women as helpless. Only a fool discounts an enemy because of gender."

  "How dare you speak to me like that?" Embisson demanded, his skin darkened with outrage - and something else. "That woman is nothing any man has to worry about, but not having a woman of your own twists your thinking on the subject. You - "

  "Wake up, old man!" Edmin interrupted harshly, glaring at the person he so used to respect. "You've messed up all the way around, you and that stupid plan you thought so much of. We've been used, and even beyond that we now have to get out of here. Noll and his wife won't want us running around loose while they put their own plans into effect, and as soon as the men reached them they knew where we intended to go. They won't turn us in to the city officials, but that doesn't mean we won't end up dead at the hands of the men who used to be ours. We have to leave here right now, and I just hope it isn't too late."

  "Cowardice really has a hold on you, doesn't it, boy?" Embisson snarled, his face having paled from what Edmin had said. "Those people won't do anything to me, they wouldn't dare! They know I'm a High Lord even if you've let yourself forget the fact. I'm not going anywhere but back to bed, and tomorrow I'll put together a new plan that doesn't include the guardsmen - or you. You'll be too busy running and hiding to give me any help anyway."

  And with that Embisson turned and stalked out of the room, leaving behind an Edmin whose mind had made the only decision possible. Dragging along the senile wasn't practical when one had a mission to complete - or when one had vengeance to arrange. The father Edmin had so loved and admired was gone forever, and the sooner he accepted that fact and got on with life, the sooner he would accomplish what he had to.

  The servants woke immediately, and once Edmin told them that they weren't safe in that house they worked fast to get the coaches ready. Edmin also took the gold they'd brought from Bastions, leaving only a small amount for the foolish old man who still thought he was important. It was all he could do for the old man, all he had time for.

  This time Edmin shared his coach with three of the servants, an effort meant to deliberately remind him that they were all fugitives together. If his plans turned out to be successful he would be their superior again, but for the moment he was no better than they.

  But he abhorred being common, so he had adequate reason to do his best and return himself to his former position. It would be a fight, but he'd been in fights before and he'd won. But first he had to concern himself with Noll and his wife, and Edmin suddenly realized he knew exactly the place from which to accomplish that concern…

  High Lord Embisson Ruhl sat in the bed which had once belonged to Zolind Maylock, annoyed with himself for not being able to sleep. He'd been lost in his thoughts for quite some time, the distraction starting when he heard the sounds of a coach leaving. He'd hoped that Edmin would pull out of whatever madness had taken him over, but instead Edmin had actually left. The poor fool was welcome to the coach, especially since Embisson was well able to afford to buy another if he needed it.

  But Embisson had no need of another coach, not when he'd already established himself in Zolind's house. This house was a symbol of success that Embisson meant to use as a rallying point, a familiar and reassuring symbol for all those who would join him in his efforts. He would put the word out, and every noble who heard about his return would come forth to volunteer his help…

  "But that can't be," Embisson suddenly muttered, wondering where such a foolish idea could have come from. "There aren't any other nobles left in the city, everyone knows that. How can I rally people who aren't here?"

  It seemed to Embisson that he'd been living in a world surrounded by mist, and now the mists were dissipating a bit. The Nolls, the people he'd expected to use, had used h
im and Edmin instead, and now he and Edmin were in the city without the support they needed. Staying in the city would be, at best, useless, and at worst, suicide. They had to retreat and regroup, and decide what their best plan of action would be.

  Once Embisson realized that, he lost no time getting out of bed. Edmin had to be roused along with the servants, and then they had to leave. Embisson dressed quickly, ignoring the fact that he hadn't been able to bathe, and then he went to search out Edmin.

  He'd checked the three bedchambers nearest his before he began to wonder what he was doing. He was High Lord Embisson Ruhl, wasn't he? Since when did a High Lord have to run from anything? He could stay right where he was and do anything he pleased, and no one would be able to say a word or do a thing about it.

  "And what I please right now is to have breakfast," Embisson decided aloud, annoyed with himself for having doubted his power even for a moment. "Once I've eaten I'll begin making my plans, and in two or three days things will be right back to where they were before this idiocy began."

  Pleased with his decision, Embisson went to ring for a servant. He pulled the bell cord more than once, but long minutes passed and there was nothing of a response. Annoyed beyond bearing, Embisson took a lamp and started toward the servants' area, fully intending to give those lazy fools an earful. He might even dismiss some of them, which would certainly cause the others to work harder to keep their own positions. Just the way things were supposed to be…

  Embisson hadn't gone far before he heard the sound of movement coming from the front of the house, and his mood immediately lightened. So his servants weren't lying slug-a-bed after all, but had risen early to get the house in shape for him. They hadn't expected him to be awake so early, and so hadn't left anyone to listen for a ring.

  An expansive feeling replaced his anger, letting Embisson head for the front of the house wearing a smile of approval. That was the key to training servants, he knew, being firm when they needed firmness and giving them approval when they behaved properly. This was definitely a time for approval, and he would -

  "Who in the name of chaos are you?" Embisson demanded, stopping short when he saw the six strange men who were crossing the large sitting room. "And more importantly, what are you doing here? This is my house now, and I want you out of it!"

  "We were looking for you, Lord Embisson," one of the men said after a brief hesitation, having exchanged a glance with the others. "We thought the house was empty, and were about to leave. Aren't your son and all those servants still with you?"

  "What do you mean, the house is empty?" Embisson demanded again, shock hitting him hard. "Edmin ran off because of his cowardice, of course, but he couldn't have taken the servants with him! Something like that would be intolerable, and I would never stand for it."

  "Of course you wouldn't," the same man soothed, coming closer to take the lamp that Embisson held. "You're an important man, and we've been given very definite orders about how we're supposed to treat you. But … where did you say your son went? If he isn't allowed to live here any longer, where would he go?"

  "He probably crawled back to his own house to hide," Embisson told the man with a snort of disdain. "I used to think he was a son worthy of a man like me, but he finally showed his true colors. I don't know who you men are, but I'm hungry and would like breakfast. Tell the servants to prepare the meal immediately, and after I've eaten I'll allow you a few minutes to tell me why you've come."

  "That's all right, Lord Embisson, we won't need much time to tell you why we've come," the man answered smoothly as a second man came to stand to Embisson's left. "In fact, we can take care of that little chore right now."

  The man smiled at Embisson, but a sudden pain in Embisson's back kept the High Lord from rebuking the man for disagreeing with him. The pain was sharp and very unexpected, and Embisson staggered when his knees suddenly failed to hold him upright. In an eyeblink Embisson lay on the carpeting, having no idea what could have happened.

  "Clean your knife and then let's get out of here," the same man said, speaking through a ringing in Embisson's ears. "The boss isn't going to be happy to hear that the other one got away - and took the servants with him."

  "Yeah, they were countin' on havin' those servants to do for them," another voice agreed distantly as everything around Embisson began to fade. "Not to mention wantin' to hear that the second also went the way of the first. Too bad we couldn't get the old man to tell us where the other one went. Now we gotta go lookin' for him."

  The first man said something else as the entire group began to leave, but Embisson was no longer able to hear the words. The ringing and fading were increasing, and then the black -

  Chapter 30

  Sembrin Noll knocked gently on the door of the bedchamber Bensia had claimed for herself. The house was much larger than the one they'd owned here in the city before the trouble, but the paintings and expensive decorations were gone. Since the doors and windows of the house were still whole, Sembrin assumed that the decorations had been confiscated rather than looted. Which said quite a lot about the new administration…

  "Come in, dear," Bensia called out from inside the room, and Sembrin walked in to see her sitting at the room's dressing table. "Do you have word yet from the men you sent after the Ruhls? I'd really enjoy having those servants fix a lovely breakfast."

  "I'm afraid we're going to have to fix our own lovely breakfast for a while," Sembrin told her as he closed the door behind himself. "The men are back, but the plan didn't go as well as we hoped it would."

  "You can't mean that Ruhl didn't go to Maylock's house after all," Bensia said, turning on the bench to look directly at him with her disturbance. "The man would have had to come to his senses for that to happen, and I don't believe he was able to."

  "Well, you're right about that," Sembrin allowed as he walked to a chair not far from her and sat. "The men found Embisson Ruhl right there in the house, but apparently he'd been deserted. Edmin, the servants, and the two coaches were gone, and we don't yet know where they've gone to. The men asked Ruhl about it before they killed him, but he had no real idea about where his son might have gone.”

  "So now we'll have to search Edmin out," Bensia muttered with a grimace. "I was certain he would die rather than desert his father, but apparently he has more sense than to stay with a sinking ship. But Lord Embisson has definitely been taken care of?"

  "I was told that the deed was done with a knife in the back," Sembrin responded with a nod. "Embisson is no longer of concern to anyone, but the same can't be said of Edmin. I have the definite feeling that he'll be very difficult to locate."

  "Even so, he shouldn't be much of a problem," Bensia decided, turning back to the mirror and picking up her hairbrush. "He can't 'betray' us when he doesn't know where we are, and sending an anonymous warning to the authorities now in charge will only set them looking for him as well. We'll set our plan in motion just as soon as you find out where those people are most vulnerable, but we will have to use the men for one other purpose. I can't abide not having servants, so they'll have to kidnap some for us."

  "You want the men to kidnap servants?" Sembrin echoed, not quite believing his ears. "Don't you think people will notice when we cart off their neighbors?"

  "We will be a bit more subtle than that, my dear," Bensia replied with a small laugh of amusement. "You'll have some of the men locate suitable servants, and then the children will pay those people a visit. After the visit the people involved will cooperate with the kidnapping, after having given their neighbors an excuse for their upcoming absence. There will be no hue and cry, and we won't have to worry about eating the food they prepare."

  "Well, this house will be more comfortable with servants to care for us," Sembrin grudged, his objections evaporating almost immediately. "Yes, that does sound like a good idea, but for the moment I've borrowed the cooks who took care of the men on the way to the city. I'm not quite sure how edible the food is, but it's hot and ready f
or us to taste right now."

  "I think we ought to have our new servants bring an adequate supply of food with them," Bensia mused as she put her brush aside and rose. "I'll make sure that the children take silver to give them, and the men who 'kidnap' them will have to help transport those supplies. The men themselves, though, will have to go in small groups to buy their own supplies. We can't announce our presence by bringing in tons of food."

  Sembrin made no mention of the fact that that was obvious; he simply rose himself and followed Bensia out of the room. Once downstairs he led the way to the smaller of the two dining rooms, which was still large enough to accommodate a dozen people or more. The instructions he'd given for putting the food out on the buffet had been followed, so he and Bensia helped themselves and then sat down to eat.

  "Well, at least it's hot," Bensia pronounced after a taste of everything she'd put on her plate. "The eggs are almost adequate, but the rest is in desperate need of proper seasoning. Let's try to get those servants in here before lunchtime."

  Again Sembrin simply nodded as he continued to eat, knowing he'd be given no rest until Bensia had her servants. The biggest problem was the fact that the children were still asleep, and would probably stay asleep until someone woke them. If the men managed to locate suitable people for servants quickly enough, the children would get a good deal less sleep than they were expecting. Which would bring problems of its own due to less than pleasant moods…

  Despite Bensia's criticism of the food, she still finished everything on her plate. Sembrin noticed that as he finished the last of the tea in his cup, but knew better than to make mention of the fact. He had just risen to refill his teacup, when one of the men standing guard entered the dining room.

  "There's someone here to see you," the man told Sembrin, using nothing of titles or names. He'd been given orders to that effect, to make sure no one slipped in the presence of outsiders, but the lack of a proper title still annoyed Sembrin.