He gave an amused snort and shrugged. “I fight by the rules that are not always honorable. I don’t stab in the back, if that’s what you mean. But today, that wasn’t honorable. Devron couldn’t have beaten me if Fortune himself had appeared to grant him luck.” He took another pull from the glass, draining the contents and turned to pour himself another. “I can stand Cassia’s little mess, and I can handle as many duels as they throw at me. What I can’t stand is the thought of my presence disgusting you.”
She pulled the cloth from her head and sat up slowly, pressing herself back against the headboard. Her stomach had settled now. With a raised eyebrow at him, she took the freshly filled cup from his hand and took a long pull, instantly regretting the action as the liquor burned its way down her throat. She managed to keep from gasping but couldn’t stop her eyes from watering. “What in the name of Fortune is that?” she demanded, the words she had planned on speaking forgotten.
He was trying hard not to laugh, and had to look away to gain his composure. “Firewater,” he answered, when he had mastered his expression again. “Firym pepper wine,” he added.
She gave him a dubious look and glared at the glass. “Do you eat or drink anything normal at all? Snakes with pepper sauce, and pepper wine. Do you have something particular against a good, honest grape?”
“I tend to prefer the unusual,” he answered with a smile and brushed a lock of curls back behind her ear. “A moment,” he said, holding a finger up to keep her still. She watched him cross to the table once more and retrieve another decanter and glass. He brought them back and poured a half glass before handing it over to her carefully. “Jimpa Brandy. You seemed to like it at Sovann’s,” he explained when he noticed her suspicious stare.
“We have school tomorrow,” she reminded him. They had already missed a day due to the trip to Merro. She paused and shook her head. Had that really only been a day ago? She rubbed her face and took a sip from the brandy. The rich flavor filled her mouth and she closed her eyes, enjoying the flavor and the memories they called up. “This has to be the sweetest thing I’ve ever tasted,” she said with a sigh. She opened her eyes and found him watching her with a bemused expression. “The decanter is almost full, don’t you like it?” she asked, more to break his silence than anything else.
He glanced at the decanter and gave a slight chuckle. “It’s a new decanter, I bought it from my father a week or two ago, but now that you ask, no I don’t really care for it because it’s a bit too sweet for me. I kept the flask on me out of habit. Wisp is fond of the stuff, though she doesn’t drink it often.” He left the rest unsaid, though she could understand it without words. He had bought the decanter because she liked it, no matter that he had no idea she would be in his company enough to enjoy it.
She stayed silent just watching him, noticing how, in this light, his eyes seemed more black than green. How his hair looked gold in the sunlight but seemed a dark chestnut brown now. She watched his muscles move as he raised his glass and took another pull from the firewater, and noted how the glass left his lips looking so moist and so soft.
A loud knock sounded at the door and she jumped, the spell of the moment broken. Not even realizing she had been leaning forward she banged her head against the headboard and gave a muffled curse. Finn let out a curse of his own, not quite as muffled, and sat his glass down with a loud thump on the table. “What?” he called, his tone filled with annoyance.
“Don’t snap at me, Finn Sovaesh, there is a boy here with food for you,” Wisp’s voice called back.
With a sigh of exasperation, Finn rose and crossed the room. Leaning on the door frame, he opened the door just enough to accept the food. “Thank you, Wisp. I’m sorry I snapped,” he said and, once food was in hand, he closed the door before she had a chance to reply. “Feel good enough to eat?” he asked as he crossed the room again, dropping heavily down onto the foot of the bed and spreading the neatly wrapped parcels between them.
“Is it snake?” she asked, poking one of the wrapped bundles cautiously.
He gave a half-hearted shrug and smiled at Marrow’s head poking up over the side of the bed. “Meat of some kind I’m sure and from the looks of it, more than enough for the three of us.”
Chapter 21
Sanctuary
Charm paced across the path for the third time, his silent steps making no sign of his crossing. His arms were folded behind him as he listened for approaching steps. He didn’t really expect to hear Isador, but he would notice Lex from a good way off. The moon was well past the mark of midnight, and that meant both of his erstwhile companions were late. He frowned and turned to cross the path a fourth time. The area of the Academy he waited in was remote and mostly unused. The chance of someone stumbling across him at this hour was so remote he didn’t bother to keep himself hidden.
The day had been a very long one for him, beginning at dawn when Christian Morcaillo had arrived at the warehouse, and as of yet it was still not over. He stifled a yawn and turned for another crossing of the path. It hadn’t been hard to stay awake last night, knowing Hemlock had been lurking nearby. Now, however, in the relative safety of the Academy, he had to move to keep alert. He didn’t care much for the magic some Immortals used to keep themselves awake. The mind needed sleep to remain healthy or at least he believed so. A body could be pushed, but a mind, for the most part, was a far more delicate thing.
“Are you working on a new path?” Isador asked, her voice a whisper in the shadows.
He started slightly at the sound, more out of instinct than anything. He had known he wouldn’t hear her approach. “I believe I have it mostly done, by the time young Lex shows I’ll likely be finished,” he replied in a light jesting tone.
“Interesting day, wasn’t it?” she commented idly as if speaking of the weather and not of the death of Devron Rivasa. With a deep breath, she stepped from the shadows, her eyes half-mast. She let the breath out slowly and leaned back against the wall. She wore the same grey silks he was used to seeing her in, but her hair was up and styled, and faint breaths of perfume rose on the breeze.
“Any interesting gossip tonight?” he asked, assuming she had been at the bar previous to this appointment.
“Oh, the Gold Penny was fairly bursting tonight with interesting people,” she said in a wistful voice. “Valor Hai’dia, Amelia Faydwer, Jail Han’shy, not to mention Cassia Avanti and Christian Morcaillo. I must say the latter two make quite the beautiful couple, despite how they dislike each other. Their children will no doubt be beautiful if not mentally scarred from listening to Mommy and Daddy try to kill each other.” She paused and cocked her head.
Charm nodded, for he had heard the approaching steps, as well. Lex would be here shortly. “I assume the gossip on everyone’s lips was the duel?” he asked.
“I’m afraid I might have missed the best of the gossip. Marcel Rivasa was leaving the inn just as I arrived, and Cassia seemed to be in very high spirits when I joined her at her table.” She shrugged as if nothing could be done for it. That was true enough, though, Charm supposed, there really was nothing they could do about any of this. Neither of them had been in a position to stop the duel, without revealing themselves. Cassia had, of course, mentioned it the day before to Isador, but neither of them had expected such quick action.
“My apologies for my lateness, it’s been a rather hectic day,” Lex said softly as he took a place on the wall near Isador. He wore his customary leathers, as well as the heavy leather coat he favored, and Charm found himself wondering how the young man wasn’t smothering to death. It wasn’t exactly hot out tonight, but so much clothing on a summer night seemed a bit much.
“No bother, gave us a chance to chat a bit,” Isador replied with a casual wave of dismissal.
“So, what word have you received?” Charm asked. It was a bit rude to push the conversation so bluntly, but he was tired and had it not been for Lex’s requested conversation, he would have been asleep hours ago while Jala was
safely tucked away with Finn and Marrow. With the addition of the Bendazzi, he had found himself wondering if she actually needed a babysitter anymore. The girl had obviously found her strength to be able to control such a creature.
“Symphony contacted me,” Lex began and gave them both a brief glance to ensure he had their full attention. “You are needed elsewhere, Charm, and you are to remain in Sanctuary with your ear to the ground, Isador. It is believed that Jala no longer needs constant guarding and times are getting rather troubled.”
“How so?” Isador prompted when he fell silent again.
“Hawk and Solace have gone missing in Gaelyn, and there have been quite a few deaths reported there on the border with Glis.” He turned his gaze to Charm. “You are to travel to Glis and meet Lutheron to investigate further.”
“Both Gaelyn and Glis are practically wilderness. Granted, Gaelyn has quite a few villages, it’s still rather rustic, I’m not exactly a ranger,” Charm protested. He could track well enough, but there were dozens of Fionaveir that could do it better. His strength lay in cities amongst crowds, not in the wilds.
“And I’m not exactly a council member. I pass on orders, not make them,” Lex pointed out. He turned to Isador then and gave a slight sigh. “You are to continue to gather any rumors that occur around Jala, but your main focus is to be on the troubles in Glis. If anyone seems to know too much, you are to take note of them and make an immediate report to me.”
“I’m not going anywhere until I’ve slept,” Charm grumbled.
Lex gave a brief snort of amusement. “Suit yourself. Just so the both of you are aware. Jala will be leaving the city in four days. I received word from Shade on this. Apparently the two of them are taking a trip from Sanctuary, and he won’t tell anyone where they are going. I’ve already reported this to Symphony, and she didn’t seem bothered by the news, so don’t concern yourself with it, Isador.”
“No idea where they are going?” Isador asked with a frown.
“A suspicion, but nothing more. I overheard Shade questioning Madren about the Tolanteer Forest, but that’s about the best guess I have.
“The Tolanteer? Did they not receive the notice that it’s rather cursed, and the witches there tend to eat trespassers?” Charm asked in disbelief.
“Apparently not.” Lex gave a brief shrug. “Leah will be going with Shade. I can’t, for my duties keep me rather close to the Academy. Can’t exactly keep an ear for gossip from the middle of a forest.”
“You don’t sound too regretful,” Isador pointed out with a smirk.
Lex gave a dramatic sigh. “Alas, I won’t be able to traipse across bug-infested forests seeking out cannibalistic witches. How horrible for me. I suppose I shall just have to settle for manicured lawns and no tick bites in remote regions of my body.”
“Poor thing,” Isador comforted him with a gentle pat and an amused smile.
Charm grumbled quietly to himself at the boy’s words. What a delightful description of what he had to look forward to himself. Without the cannibalistic witches of course. He apparently had homicidal maniacs or some ravenous beast in their place. “Enjoy your manicured lawns, and thank you for relaying the message. I’m going to get some sleep now if you both would excuse me,” he said in a voice that was perhaps a bit too curt, though he was truly too tired to care if he had offended them.
Charm heard Isador give a slight chuckle as he left. “He is just contemplating where exactly ticks might care to bite him. Don’t be concerned with his snapping,” she said to Lex, her words barely audible as he climbed the building to the first available hiding spot where he could rest.
Charm gave a sigh and lay back against the tiles of the roof. With a practiced ease he rolled his cloak into a makeshift pillow and considered his current assignment. There had to be a reason they were sending him to Glis. All he had to do was figure out what exactly, it was that required his particular brand of skills. With luck, Lutheron would explain on the morrow, though he doubted it. Lutheron was not exactly the talkative sort. Most likely he would have to remain patient until the moment presented itself. That he could worry about tomorrow, however.
He woke to bright daylight and the heat of the tiled roof beneath him. With a groan, he sat up and rubbed his lower back. There was much to be said about the comforts a tiled roof had to offer. On a normal night, he would have put a pallet down. Last night he simply hadn’t cared. Today, however, his body was full of complaints. “What a perfectly wonderful way to start a perfectly wonderful day,” he sang lightly to himself, repeating a song he’d heard Faramir singing to her children long ago. Despite the cheerful words, his voice was grim and depressed to his own hearing.
He looked around at the Academy and the city spreading beyond its gates. The view from the Academy’s roof was a magnificent one, though he much preferred it at night. Not only was it cooler, the city was breathtaking at night with the mage lights winking throughout the districts. The various House colors made it seem a rainbow of civilization. Warm summer sun washed down over it now and everywhere he looked was bustling with activity. From the school paths below him to the distant central market, everyone apparently had something to do today. As did he. He sighed at the thought and gathered his cloak. Everything he needed was stored inside it. No excuses there to gather provisions. The multiple pockets of the cloak were enchanted and held everything from apples to wine skin.
“Oh how I will miss you, you poxy whore,” he sighed, speaking to the city itself. It was true that Sanctuary was one of the most dangerous places one could be, if you chose the wrong area of the city of course. But to Charm, a city-bred rogue, it was safety. No matter if Hemlock ruled here, or if starvation drove many to desperation in certain quarters, he knew he could melt away into the shadows here and know safety. The shadows of the wilderness were a much different story. Trees didn’t conceal the way alleys did, and the common theory “if you could hide in one shadow you could hide in any shadow,” was only true for those that actually held shadow magic. He did not. His skills at hiding were perfectly natural with no arcane involved, and most importantly, had been learned in a city.
With a last wistful look at Sanctuary, he pulled on his cloak and removed a ring from the depths of a pocket. He slid it onto his finger and brought the memory of Lutheron to mind. The ring was standard issue for field operatives, and in moments, he could see Lutheron standing in a grove of ancient trees, holding the reins of two horses. His expression did not look the least bit patient, and Charm found himself wondering how long the man had been waiting on him. He called on the ring’s magic once more and felt the tiled roofs and the safety of the city wash away from him in one silent wave of magic.
He stood blinking a few moments in the dappled shade of the forest and looked to Lutheron. “Sorry to keep you waiting. I slept later than I expected,” he said, as Lutheron silently handed him a set of reins. Charm regarded the horse with a critical eye. He wasn’t much of a horseman, but he knew a bit about the beasts, and this one seemed quite fine. Better than the standard Fionaveir horse, given that a fine horse attracts attention. There were exceptions of course, such as Victory’s horse, Avalanche, but the common man kept a common horse. This was a fine boned gelding with a coat the color of dawn mist. His muzzle and legs were a darker grey with fine dappling on his sides in the same color. His mane and tail hung thick and were brushed to a gloss without a single burr in them. The tack was exceptional, as well. Freshly oiled black leather with bright silver buckles. He looked to Lutheron’s mount which was a dark blood bay of the same quality. With a raised eyebrow, he glanced at Lutheron.
“The horses are courtesy of Lord Blackwolf. He wishes us the best of luck on our mission,” Lutheron replied quietly.
Charm looked back at his own mount with a smirk. The idea of the High Lord of Glis providing him with a horse was a rather amusing one. Previous to the barrier, the only thing Lord Blackwolf would have considered giving him was a noose, and he had done his best to avoid
the man during their captivity inside the barrier. It all went back to some paltry matter involving a black pearl necklace or maybe a diamond ring, at this point of his career it all tended to blur together.
A faint rattle of leaves drew his attention to the edge of the grove, and he found himself eye to eye with a wolf the size of a pony. That, of course, was not unusual in Glis, but it was unsettling, especially considering the High Lord had a tendency to turn into such a creature himself. This beast, however, was a brown variety with hints of grey in its coat. The High Lord, much as his name implied, shifted to a very large black wolf; a very bad tempered black wolf, if Charm remembered correctly.
“One of our escorts, there are three of them, all wolves and all young,” Lutheron said as he mounted the bay. “Shall we go? I’d like to make it as far as Briarford by nightfall. That was the direction Solace was headed in her last report.”
Charm gave a quick nod and mounted the grey. The saddle was a comfortable one, padded in the seat, and the bags that hung behind them swung heavy with the promise of packed food. Perhaps he was judging Lord Blackwolf harshly he mused. there was a chance the man wasn’t quite as bad as he had seemed all those years before.
“Any idea what we will be facing?” Charm called ahead to Lutheron who had already guided his horse from the grove. The ancient trees were thick here and partially obscured him, prompting Charm to push his own mount into motion. Pine needles gave slightly with the occasional snap of a twig beneath the horse’s hooves, but other than that, the area was silent. Not even the hint of the typical birdsong hung in the area. Charm frowned and looked up to try and see if any birds were actually around. He wasn’t a woodsman by any means, but the forest seemed unnaturally quiet.
“Something capable of wiping out an entire village in one day and handling Solace and Hawk two very seasoned Fionaveir,” Lutheron called back. “You believe them dead then?” Charm asked, a bit shocked. He knew Solace and Hawk well. The couple worked better together than any team in the Fionaveir, and they were known to be talented too, so talented they were often relied on for the more difficult missions.
The Elder Blood Chronicles Bk 1 In Shades of Grey Page 30