Fate

by Mary Corran

  Honora began to cry and Mallory suppressed a sigh, wishing she had more restraint; her tears seemed to bring her no relief, and he found himself unable to offer the words of consolation she required. What was it Asher had said: ‘He’ll find a weapon to use against you.’ Had Avorian already done so?

  ‘Honora, stop, please.’ He was growing angry in the face of her continued tears, helpless to halt them. ‘Tell me, have you asked the servants to search for him?’

  She swallowed, gulping back sobs. ‘In the house, the grounds, and on the hill. No one has seen anything, and Crisa and Lake tell me he said nothing to them about running off.’

  ‘Then all is being done that can be, at this stage.’ He eyed her warily, but she seemed to have stopped crying, at least for now. ‘Has this happened before? I mean has he gone missing for more than just an hour or so?’

  ‘No.’ She looked up resentfully.

  ‘Tell me, why do you have this conviction that I want to take Kelham’s place?’ He had had enough of her accusations, and decided the time had come for plain speaking.

  The question shocked her from her misery. ‘Because my family said you would — and Kirin is only a child,’ she burst out rather incomprehensibly.

  ‘Then listen to me for a change.’ He had her full attention. ‘First, I have no desire for this life in Venture; it was forced on me by Kelham’s death, and I regret it deeply. Second, I believe I owe you an apology, for I know you offered to discuss the business of our clan but I was less than tactful, not understanding your interest.’ Her mouth opened in stunned surprise, but he went on: ‘They tell me you are more than competent in the trade. Is that the case?’

  ‘I — Kelham always said so. My father taught me all he knew.’

  ‘Then why, given that intelligence, do you waste your time and mine in this ridiculous fashion?’

  ‘How dare you?’ she began. A change came over her face. ‘Mallory, did you mean what you said? Swear it to me — about Kirin.’

  ‘You have my word.’

  Her eyes searched his face, then she nodded. Mallory saw, to his own surprise, that at last she believed him. ‘Then I must apologize also, brother,’ she said carefully. ‘I thought, from your manner, you wanted to be rid of us all, so you could take what we had. But,’ and the anxiety was back in her voice, ‘then where is Kirin?’

  ‘I will find him.’ Awkwardly, he took her hands between his, liking her more for her honesty than he had till now. ‘I will do everything I can.’

  She sniffed, making herself seem much younger. ‘I shall leave and not delay you.’ But at the door she looked back, her fine eyes filled with pain. ‘Please, brother, find him!’

  Mallory could only repeat his assurances, but a cold hand clutched his heart. Had Avorian taken the boy?

  ‘We’ve asked at every house on the hill, but no one has seen him,’ Pars answered nervously, several hours later. ‘I’ve sent down to the harbour, in case he should have gone there, and to the warehouse.’

  ‘Keep trying.’ Even though the search seemed futile, Mallory felt a need to make the attempt. ‘And thank you. Pars.’

  The clerk hesitated, then said anxiously: ‘Councillor, it is impossible he left the grounds; the gatekeeper says he did not leave his post for a moment, and the boy did not pass the gate.’

  Then he must have climbed a wall.’ Pars’ face brightened. ‘Have the house searched again. Perhaps he’s found a hiding place somewhere — some cupboard.’

  ‘Certainly, Councillor.’ Pars retreated to give the orders. Mallory, however, slumped down at his desk, uncertain for once what course of action was still open to him. If Avorian meant to force him to abandon the search for Vallis, on pain of Kirin’s life, what would he do? What could he do? Where did his main responsibility lie? Kirin was his brother’s son, in his care, and he could not abandon that duty.

  What if it had been Asher?

  It was an impossible choice. Duty might argue he should ignore the personal in pursuit of the greater good, but the cost was too high; he did not think he could live with himself if Kirin died, simply because he had the misfortune to be Mallory’s nephew.

  Night fell with no word of the boy. Sedated, Honora slept, but Mallory permitted himself no such luxury; it was not a sentimental affection for Kirin that moved him — if it came to it, he preferred the boy’s sister and younger brother — but that Kelham had consigned his family to Mallory’s care, to be his first duty. Which was more important: their lives, at any price, or his duty to the Dominus and his country? Either way, he would fail one of them, and he must live with himself whichever he chose.

  And if I give in, choosing that duty, what will Asher do? Will she, too, submit, and let Avorian have his way, or will she fight? But he knew the answer already; she had given her word to Mylura and would not break it. If he chose Kirin, he would lose Asher, too. Unfairly, he contrasted her with his sister-in-law, wishing Honora had one-tenth of Asher’s courage, until he realized that he had been thinking of Honora as little more than a piece of property bequeathed to him against his will, his to command. Her children made her subject, having to rely on him and his goodwill for their inheritance, for their very existence; why, then, should she trust him or in his good faith? Her independent life had ended with the death of her husband — small wonder she resented his own existence.

  He was still at his desk when the morning bell tolled the end of curfew, but despite the long night he had come to no firm decision. As the sun rose, he was tempted to ask Asher for her help, if only to discuss the problem, but that was the coward’s way, to make her responsible for his own choice.

  This was a choice that only he could make.

  *

  Asher pored over the city plan looking for Cavern Street, found it, and shook her head.

  It was nowhere near the river. That could not be it. She looked down the list of Avorian’s properties, relieved to find she was nearing the end at last; since she was unable to help Mallory in the search for the missing Kirin — she could not even leave the house with any degree of safety — she intended to reap some benefit from Oramen’s sacrifice and discover the house she had seen, but so far without success.

  The Street of Gifts — hardly! Even Avorian would not keep his intended wife among those dens of prostitution. It would not be safe. She was no longer surprised to find Avorian owned a large investment in the street; doubtless he employed slave labour to better his returns. From the man she now knew him to be, anything was possible.

  A building in the fish market looked more promising, but the plan showed it could not be the place she sought; there was no inn near, and it was too far from the river.

  A bunch of ivy ... of course, a shop-sign! A vintner’s! She sighed, realized she could have saved herself several hours of searching if she had remembered it before. There were two such properties on the remaining list, and she sought the first, only to find it on the wrong side of the city.

  Then this must be it. She ran a finger over the plan, looking for the Street of Approach, and found it; the vintner’s shop was beside an inn, marked clearly on the plan. It was high in the north-west of the city, near the Sair Gate, on the borders of the old quarter, overlooking the river and the bridge. She sat back on her heels, flushed with temporary success.

  ‘What are you doing?’

  ‘Oh — Mallory!’ Asher jumped to her feet. ‘Is there any news?’

  The small parlour was at the rear of the house on the ground floor, out of the way. He came in and shut the door behind him, shaking his head. ‘None. Asher?’ She looked at him enquiringly. ‘Have you any suggestions?’

  It was obvious he had not slept; she felt a stab of sympathy for him, understanding his dilemma. ‘I sent word to Essa and the others, to keep their eyes open for the boy,’ she said. ‘Just in case.’

  ‘Won’t that put them in danger?’

  ‘Why should it? This has nothing to do with Vallis, and in any case I had to let them know I was safe.
Besides,’ she went on reluctantly, ‘we — I — may need their help.’

  Mallory frowned. ‘For what?’

  ‘I think I’ve found where Vallis is hidden.’

  He looked as if she had struck him.

  ‘Don’t worry,’ she said quickly. ‘I won’t tell you; I wouldn’t put you in that position. But I had to know.’

  ‘So I may lose you, too?’

  Silence descended. Asher, searching Mallory’s face, wondered if she had misunderstood the implications of his last remark, then knew, with sudden certainty, that she had not. ‘What if I leave your house?’ she said awkwardly. ‘Then you’d have one less worry.’

  ‘And give Avorian another weapon to use against me?’

  ‘I thought ... ’ Asher began. Then, suddenly, ‘What was that?’

  ‘I don’t know.’ Mallory was already out of the room and heading towards the great hall. Asher followed at a run, hearing raised voices.

  Had they found Kirin? She hoped, without much belief, that the boy was still alive. She reached the hall, then stopped.

  Two men stood in the centre, surrounded by a group of household servants. Incredulously, Asher recognized first Lassar, as was his habit a pace behind his master, then, belatedly, Avorian. The Chief Councillor was smiling amiably at the crowd of onlookers, apparently enjoying their interested attention, looking over their heads to greet Mallory’s arrival with every evidence of good humour.

  ‘Chief Councillor.’ Mallory’s greeting was void of any emotion as he looked at the small, limp body supported in Avorian’s arms.

  ‘Councillor Mallory.’ Avorian inclined his head, then held the boy out to the younger man. ‘I think this is your missing nephew. Lassar discovered him. We were all most anxious to hear of his disappearance.’

  Mallory took the slack body. The boy lay unnaturally still but Asher, watching, was first to observe the slow rise and fall of his boy’s chest, and to note the relaxation of Mallory’s lips as he, too, understood that Kirin was only asleep.

  ‘I think he must have been given something to make him sleep,’ Avorian continued easily. ‘But Lassar assured me he will soon wake and recover.’

  ‘Where did you find him?’ Mallory asked.

  ‘Lassar saw him in an empty house in the old quarter; naturally, knowing how anxious you would be, I asked him to search as soon as I was informed of your distress, and this was the result. Doubtless thieves took him, hoping for a heavy ransom.’

  Mallory handed Kirin to one of the servants. ‘Take him to his mother,’ he ordered curtly. ‘Tell her he will wake soon, and to stay with him. I will come and see how he is shortly.’

  The bemused servant hurried away with his precious burden, but not before he shot his master a look of shocked surprise for his lack of gratitude to the Chief Councillor. Mallory recovered sufficiently to turn back to Avorian and speak a few words of thanks.

  ‘Don’t mention it. But I should be glad of a word with you in private, if you are not otherwise occupied?’ Avorian’s gaze flicked across to Asher. ‘I shall, of course, understand if it is not possible.’

  ‘It is convenient.’ The servants were melting away now the excitement was at an end; only Pars and another clerk were left in the hall. Mallory gestured in the direction of the office. ‘If you will come with me?’

  Asher followed behind Lassar, watching Avorian’s back with cold hatred, determined not to be excluded from the coming confrontation, but her grasp of events seemed to her tenuous in the extreme. Why should Avorian have Kirin abducted, only to return him in person? Had the whole scene been designed simply to prove to Mallory he had no defence against the Chief Councillor, like herself and Mylla?

  She entered the office to find Lassar’s bulging eyes upon her.

  Chapter Sixteen

  ‘What have you come to say?’

  Avorian seated himself opposite Mallory, the desk between them; Lassar stood at his back and Asher moved to take up a similar position behind Mallory, letting her hand drop to his shoulder.

  ‘I thought perhaps it was time we reached some agreement,’ Avorian answered pleasantly. ‘It is foolish for us to fight unnecessary battles, wasting our time and our energies.’

  ‘Why did you abduct my nephew? To silence me?’

  ‘I have returned him to you unharmed. Does that not speak for me?’ Avorian leaned forward confidentially. ‘He will remember nothing of where he has been. Yet I hope his disappearance was sufficient warning to you not to interest yourself too deeply in my affairs.’

  Mallory wondered, briefly, if the easiest solution to the problem was simply to kill Avorian; he bore no weapon, but was familiar with other methods of killing drawn from the lands of the Dominion, and physically Lassar would be no sort of opponent. There was a flabbiness to him that bespoke indolence.

  ‘I think not.’ Avorian seemed to have read his thoughts, for he smiled. ‘If you move a hand against me, you would live to regret it; not only is my presence here public knowledge, but several of my men wait outside the gates. I am, I believe, quite popular in this city for the present, while you are little known. Must I tell you what would happen in the event of my death?’

  ‘No.’ Mallory felt the pressure of Asher’s fingers on his shoulder and forced himself to relax; he dared not endanger the lives of everyone in the household by a false move. ‘Tell me,’ he went on, changing the subject, ‘where is the girl?’

  ‘Quite safe, my dear Councillor.’

  ‘From whom?’

  Avorian inclined his head. ‘From you and your friends.’

  ‘Then hardly safe.’

  ‘That, I think, is a matter of opinion. It occurs to me, Councillor, that you may be labouring under a misapprehension. You believe I have stolen the girl away for my own evil ends, but I know I have rescued her from certain death. I am our country’s deliverer, not its destroyer.’

  ‘No.’

  He gave Mallory a look of pained surprise. ‘How can you be so certain? Have you proof, then, of my evil intentions? Show me them, if you can.’

  ‘If you believed what you say, you would not have ordered the murders of two of my friends. You could have told me the situation and bound me to keep silence; instead you use threats and violence to enforce your will. Your actions speak where your words would mislead.’

  Avorian paused, considering the contention. ‘Or it may be that we place a different value on those lives you mention,’ he suggested at last. ‘Who were they — a spying servant girl, and a seeress? What weight do their lives carry compared with the future, the destruction of Amrist’s empire? Surely their destiny was to die, that we might win our freedom?’

  Mallory was in no mood for verbal fencing. ‘And Asher and myself? Do you see that as our destiny, too? All of us mere pawns in the game of the Fates?’

  ‘Yes! If need be.’ Mallory was startled by his obvious sincerity; the man believed what he was saying. ‘I would regret your death, Councillor. I even spared this woman here because you value her, and so I, too, assign her worth.’ Behind him, Mallory felt Asher stiffen. ‘My destiny has always been to save our country, and I can allow no one to step in my shadow. You have been favoured by the Fates, and your woman, too, despite her sex; Lassar has seen this for me, but also that you represent a potential impediment to my design.’

  ‘What gives you the right to determine the will of the Fates?’ Asher asked, in a cold voice. ‘You are only a man.’

  ‘Did you speak?’ Avorian looked at her in surprise and irritation, much, Mallory thought, as he might observe a dog standing on its hind legs. ‘If I address you, you may respond, but otherwise you will remain silent.’

  ‘You do not command me. Councillor. Not here, nor in any other place. I asked you a question. What is your answer?’

  Avorian’s eyes narrowed, and for a moment Mallory thought it easy to believe the man guilty of dealing death with a casual hand. ‘Do not think, mistress, that because you still live you retain a value to me. On the con
trary, your purpose is exhausted. You may think yourself one of Fortune’s children by reason of the circumstances of your birth, of which my servants have told me, yet to me those such as you should not be permitted to live; you are anti-Fates. However,’ he went on, returning his attention to Mallory, ‘I will explain myself to you, for I shall require your support in the future. You are a lucky man, Councillor, almost as fortunate as myself, and everything I touch turns to gold.’

  Mallory could think of several responses to this arrogant boast, but voiced none of them. ‘Why, then?’

  Avorian’s eyes glowed with a curious inner exultation as he began to speak. ‘When I was a young man like yourself, before the invasion, like so many in the city I climbed to the citadel to consult the Oracle. Even at my birth the omens were seen to be favourable, and I was a rich man before I was twenty, but I had no heir, the one impediment to my happiness, for I loved my wife and had no desire to put her from me. I wished to know whether I should have a son.’

  ‘And?’

  A shadow crossed Avorian’s face. ‘The Oracle promised me no children by Katriane; that was my sorrow. But nonetheless I was vouchsafed more — much more. For while she might bear me no living child, it was given to me to be father of our country.’

  Again, it was plain he spoke the truth, or the truth as he saw it, and Mallory experienced a momentary qualm. ‘What was this prophecy?’

  ‘You shall hear.’ Avorian closed his eyes for a moment. ‘Rarely has the Oracle spoken so plainly as in my case, or shown so clearly what I must do. It was the same year that Vallis was born, shortly before the Oracle itself proclaimed her our hope against the Kamiri. Even then I knew that it was I who must preserve her from Amrist, that it was I who would save us all!’ Listen:

  “Destroying and preserving both,

  The wolf, through cunning, not through strength.

  Sustains the sleeping Bear.

  He mingles with the coming dark,

  Invisible; he gathers up

  The only fruitful seed and nutures it — ”