Orlind

by Charlotte E. English

  ‘I’ve a blouse,’ she offered. ‘Quite a lot of fabric in that. There’ll be a coat, too, later on.’

  No response.

  ‘Fine. Try to keep up.’ She set off down the corridor, Rikbeek stubbornly maintaining his station near the top of the wall. But when she was almost out of sight, he peeled himself off the plasterwork and charged after her.

  ‘Good plague,’ she smiled. ‘I’m probably going to need you.’

  Devary had been given his own room, of course, like the rest of them. The Library certainly wasn’t short on space. But he’d taken to spending most of his time among the bookshelves, specifically those relating to musical studies. He had spent many hours there, before he’d left the Library for Rheas’s house. Eva wouldn’t be surprised to find he’d gone straight back there upon his return.

  She made for the music libraries at once. Rikbeek shadowed her, flying a few feet behind as though to suggest he wasn’t really with her.

  Ah well. He’d get over it eventually.

  Tren caught up with her along the way.

  ‘Found it?’ she asked.

  ‘What?’

  ‘Whatever it was you left in your room.’

  ‘Oh.’ He flushed. ‘Yep. All set.’ He paused. ‘So you’re wearing those?’

  Eva looked down at her legs. ‘Apparently.’

  Another pause, then he said, ‘Let’s hope Devary has a strong constitution.’

  Devary proved to be somewhat more gentlemanly than Tren. Disconcerted he might be, but he didn’t stare. Instead he pulled the “surreptitious glance” manoeuvre a number of times, mostly when he thought she wasn’t looking, and she caught him exchanging a raised-eyebrows look with Tren. But he didn’t comment on her appearance.

  ‘I’ve got two people to introduce to you,’ he said with his charming smile. ‘I don’t advise we go directly to the University. I’ll take you to my house instead, if that is all right with you. It is close to the faculty building. I will bring my colleague to you there.’

  Eva nodded. The precautions were sensible. If Krays was at the University, she would have a difficult time explaining her white hair. He might guess that she had something to do with Limbane.

  ‘Or,’ said Tren. ‘We could play dress-up.’

  Eva lifted her brows. ‘Lokant camouflage? Not possible. It’s too hard to do that to multiple people at once. Though, perhaps I could borrow Andraly’s wig...’

  Tren was shaking his head. ‘I’ll disguise you. Do I have your permission?’

  ‘Yes,’ she said with a touch of suspicion. ‘But no tricks.’

  He held up innocent hands. ‘Wouldn’t dream of it. Give me a moment.’

  She waited patiently while Tren worked. Not that there was much to demonstrate that he was working. He merely stood and examined her for a while, then eventually nodded.

  ‘You look good with black hair,’ he said, and Eva raised a self-conscious hand to her formerly-white locks.

  ‘But the trousers,’ interjected Devary, gesturing at her legs. She looked down to find that she was wearing a long skirt again.

  ‘Tren!’

  ‘Move about,’ he said with a trace of irritation. ‘They aren’t gone. It’s just an illusion.’

  Testing this, she found it was true. Her legs remained free; she only appeared to be wearing three or four draping layers of fabric. ‘Why, though?’

  ‘Two reasons really,’ he replied, shoving his hands into his pockets. ‘If we’re not trying to attract attention, then a skirt will blend in better. And if you want some of the rest of us to be able to focus on the Krays problem, then this is going to be a good idea.’

  She sighed, feeling crestfallen at the partial loss of her beautiful new trousers. ‘Let’s go, then,’ she said, putting the matter aside.

  When it came to dragging two grown men across the world(s) via the PsiMap, Eva wondered, was it her physical muscles or her mental ones that were employed? Either way, they were heavy. Sometimes she felt she might as well try to throw them to Draetre as carry them over the Map.

  She managed it, however, safely depositing the three of them in a small cloakroom off Draetre University’s entrance hall. Devary looked around.

  ‘Indren’s office is just down the hall,’ he said. ‘A mere few steps. She will probably be here at this time.’

  Eva didn’t ask how he could tell what time it was in Draetre when they stood in a windowless cloakroom. This was his home town; no doubt there were many clues he’d pick up that she would miss entirely. She and Tren followed without comment as he flung open the cloakroom door and strode away down the narrow corridor beyond.

  The building was unprepossessing. It gave off the impression of being a mere minor facility without wealth to waste on decoration. Most of the rooms were small, and crowded with the books and desks and equipment the students - if there ever were any - required.

  Devary stopped at a plain wooden door and knocked lightly upon it. A female voice answered right away. Eva could almost see him taking the charming smile out of his pocket and pasting it on as he went in, gesturing for them to follow.

  ‘Indren, good evening,’ he said to the woman who sat behind the desk. She was a native of the realm of Nimdre, her skin a few shades more tanned than Devary’s and her curly hair a lighter shade of brown. She looked to be around the same age as Eva herself, or perhaps a little older.

  Devary had explained about Professor Indren Druaster. She was a senior researcher here, and she and Dev had been colleagues for years. From the depth of relief in her answering smile, being colleagues wasn’t exactly the way she’d like their relationship to proceed.

  ‘Oh, thank goodness,’ she said in a rush. ‘When you vanished, I thought... where did you go? Is everything well?’ She left her desk and all but ran forward, then stopped. Her relief vanished when she saw that Devary had brought guests. Suspicion took its place, a sort of habitual wariness that told Eva a great deal. This woman had grown used to handling the likes of Krays, that was for sure.

  ‘All is well, I promise,’ Devary said, dropping a brief kiss on the woman’s hand. ‘I will explain soon.’ Then, with exquisite manners and a perfect knowledge of etiquette, Dev turned back to her. ‘My lady, allow me to introduce to you my superior, Professor Druaster. Indren, this is Lady Evastany Glostrum and Mr Pitren Warvel, both of Glour.’

  Indren’s expression didn’t change. ‘A pleasure,’ she said flatly, then turned a questioning look on Devary.

  ‘Is it safe to talk here?’ he asked her in a low voice. His manner made it obvious what kind of talk he had in mind.

  She sighed with infinite weariness, and shrugged. ‘Who knows. Probably, if you lock the door and make it quick.’

  Being nearest to the door, Tren turned to lock it.

  ‘Wait,’ Eva said, sliding past him. Extracting Rikbeek from the pocket of her coat, she threw him out into the corridor with a silent order to keep watch. He knew what to look for by now. If any threat approached - especially Krays - he would warn her, and she would take all of them back to the Library immediately.

  That done, she shut and locked the door. Devary ushered them to chairs, and when they were all seated he began.

  ‘I know you’re... wary of all white-hairs, Indren, and with good reason, but there is more to this matter than you know. Do you remember last time we spoke? We met an old man in the grounds.’ At Indren’s uncomprehending nod, he went on. ‘That man is known as Limbane. He runs a rival organisation to that belonging to Krays. Eva and Tren are among his agents.’

  Indren’s pale eyes turned back to Eva’s face, which she examined with no sign of either welcome or rejection. ‘All right,’ she said.

  ‘Limbane’s Library is undoubtedly the stronger of the two. He has many white-hairs under his direction, more than enough to challenge Krays. His recent... endeavours are as troubling to them as they have been to us, and they would like our assistance in addressing this problem.’

  It was a nice speech,
delivered smoothly, but Indren didn’t accept it right away.

  ‘If they are so much more powerful than Krays,’ she said coolly, ‘why do they require our help?’

  ‘Because Krays has proved adept at keeping his goals a secret, and we happen to specialise in uncovering information.’

  ‘We have some conjectures about Krays’s probable aims,’ Eva put in. ‘But we would like confirmation. And more details on a number of things.’

  Indren looked at Devary. ‘You trust these people?’

  ‘I have had to take very little on trust,’ he smiled. ‘My disappearance was unintentional. Krays discovered me in one of his warehouses and hauled me away. I was imprisoned in his Library, until Limbane arrived with a team of Lokants. They were rescuing another hostage, and released me at the same time. I have since had the opportunity to explore Limbane’s rival Library quite thoroughly, and I have met many of his Lokants. This is no trick.’

  Indren shot him a look of resentment. ‘You weren’t supposed to go without me.’

  Devary spread his hands. ‘If I hadn’t, you may have been captured along with me, and who knows what may have happened? I couldn’t risk you being hurt.’

  Indren looked like she wanted to soften under the influence of those caring considerations, but didn’t know how.

  ‘But that aside, Indren, if we would like to rid the University of Krays’s influence, then it is in our interests to assist these two in any way we can.’ Devary was using everything he had to convince her, Eva could tell. His voice held a caressing tone, and his eyes were warm with heartfelt sincerity as he looked at his colleague. Mr Kant could be dangerous.

  The professor cast a last glance at Devary’s reassuring smile, and sighed. She was tired, Eva could see that clearly. Weariness marred a face that was otherwise attractive, despite the severity of her manner. Suspicion, fear and wariness seemed to be all that sustained her, for as soon as she relinquished those she sagged in her chair.

  ‘I wish I could hope,’ she said faintly. ‘But I daren’t.’

  Devary took one of her hands, quite gently, and stroked it. ‘We had little chance alone, but with the help of Limbane’s Lokants we have hope.’

  She nodded and straightened again, visibly pulling herself together. ‘What do you wish to know?’

  Devary looked at Eva, but she gestured for him to carry on. He obviously knew how to deal with Indren.

  He turned back to the professor. ‘First, has anything of note happened in my absence?’

  Indren frowned, thinking back. ‘That warehouse you went to? Greyson went out there after you disappeared. It’s empty. Was it empty when you saw it?’

  Devary shook his head. ‘It was full of devices in various stages of construction. No two alike, that I could see. I noticed a lot of draykon bone being used.’

  ‘Devices? Any common features?’

  ‘Other than the bone, no. But I didn’t get chance to examine them very closely.’

  ‘If he jumped you that fast, I’d say he was keeping a watch on it,’ Indren surmised. ‘Must’ve been important, whatever it was. More news: Ana has been seen here again. Twice, the last time being yesterday.’

  Eva felt a touch of satisfaction at that news. That possibly resolved one of the problems with her latest scheme.

  ‘And Krays hasn’t,’ Indren added.

  ‘Hasn’t?’ Devary asked. ‘Hasn’t what?’

  ‘Been seen lately. Not by any of us.’

  That silenced Devary so thoroughly that Eva felt a tendril of anxiety crawl through her gut. The look on his face bothered her.

  ‘For how long?’ he said at last.

  ‘Eight days.’

  More silence.

  ‘I take it this is not good news,’ Eva said at last.

  Indren shook her head. ‘It’s too much to hope that he’s finished with us. For a long time now he’s been about regularly, at least once every few days. He’s controlling, and I believe he likes to see for himself that we’re doing as he expects. It used to be Ana’s job to keep an eye on us, but after her betrayal...’ Indren shrugged.

  ‘If Ana has returned, perhaps she’s made amends and been given her old job back,’ Tren suggested.

  But Indren shook her head. ‘She isn’t as she was. I spoke to her only briefly, but I got the impression she shouldn’t be here. She was jumpy, but she calmed down as soon as I told her about Krays’s absence.’

  So Krays had left his pet agency unattended. Eva understood Indren’s concern. That implied that he’d found something much more important to do, and that didn’t bode well at all.

  Eight days in Seven Realms time. How long might that translate to out in Krays’s Library?

  ‘What became of the genealogy project?’ Devary asked.

  ‘Cancelled,’ Indren said. ‘Or completed, I suppose. You don’t happen to know if he found the other two?’

  She didn’t elaborate, but Devary understood her. ‘He didn’t,’ he said with a smile. ‘Limbane collected them up.’

  Indren sagged again in relief. ‘They’re safe?’

  He nodded, then turned his attention to Eva and Tren. ‘Krays used Indren’s department to identify and locate the other hereditary draykons,’ he explained. ‘Indren delayed the results as long as she could, which may have given us the time we needed to get them out.’

  Indren was frowning. ‘But this doesn’t make sense. All resources were diverted to that project. Whatever he wanted those three for, it was important to him. But he threw out the project before he left, acting like it had been completed and accomplished. Why would he do that, if he didn’t get the draykoni?

  Eva pondered that. She had a point. Limbane had been tracking the draykoni lines throughout human history, so he knew that only those three human-draykoni were currently in existence. But if Krays had been using Indren to uncover that information, then he hadn’t been keeping track the way Limbane had. He couldn’t know that there were only three. Why hadn’t he gone looking for more?

  Frustration throbbed at her temple, rapidly building into a headache. She hated this guessing game. Based on the evidence they had, she and Limbane had come up with a horrible conjecture about Krays’s reason for wanting Orillin, Avane and Llandry. She was still convinced that their human shapes were the most significant part, for he’d shown no interest in Pensould (though perhaps he would, if he learned that Pensould could also shape-shift human). She feared that Orillin’s human-shaped draykon bones were his individual target: he sought to find a way to harness draykoni magics, making himself much more powerful than Limbane. He’d used Griel as a means of testing a new way of transplanting bones; when he had perfected that procedure, his next move must be to transplant Orillin’s bones into his own body.

  This theory made too much sense to be discarded, but having failed to capture Orillin, why would Krays abandon the project? The only reasonable things for him to do were to try to take Orillin from Limbane’s Library, which was unlikely to succeed, or to look for another target.

  ‘Any idea what Ana was doing here?’ Tren said.

  Good question, Eva thought. If she wasn’t reporting to Krays what was she doing?

  Unfortunately Indren could only shrug. ‘It occurred to me that it might be possible to convert her to our cause. She’s already betrayed Krays once, and suffered pretty badly for it. But she wouldn’t speak openly to me. There’s something else, though,’ Indren added. ‘Krays gave us a new research topic.’

  ‘Oh?’ Devary sat up. ‘What is it?’

  Indren rolled her eyes. ‘Nothing that makes any more sense than the last one. We’re researching the Off-Worlds, specifically their changeability. You’ll know that the Lowers have been Changing more frequently than they used to, and there have been some anomalies in the Uppers as well. I’m assuming this new project has something to do with all of that, but you never know with him.’

  ‘Their changeability?’ Eva repeated. ‘How, exactly? What are you measuring?’

 
; ‘Krays wants reports on everything that’s been happening in the Off-Worlds since the draykoni re-emerged. He also has us digging into old texts, looking for theories - or better, hard fact - on the way those places work.’

  ‘I suppose it’s futile to ask if he gave you any idea why he’s interested.’

  Indren’s mouth twisted. ‘Of course it is. He never shares.’

  ‘Anything else to tell us?’ Devary asked.

  Indren shook her head. ‘Greyson might have something, but I doubt it. He usually passes everything on to me.’

  Eva wondered who Greyson was, but didn’t think it worth interrupting to enquire.

  ‘Can you talk to Greyson?’ Devary asked. ‘I need both of you to send everything you uncover to me. I’ll be staying in Draetre for a while. In turn I’ll make sure that Limbane gets it, via her ladyship there.’

  Indren’s eyes brightened at the news that he’d be staying, and she consented to his request immediately.

  ‘A few things in particular, Professor,’ Eva said. ‘Those machines bother me, and Krays’s absence bothers me. If you learn anything at all about those, please send it along immediately. Even the faintest suspicion may be of interest.’

  Indren smiled ruefully. ‘If your Limbane may be the means of getting rid of that man, I’ll gladly do anything you ask.’

  Eva nodded, then froze. Rikbeek’s thoughts touched hers, shrieking an alarm. He’d seen something. Someone, in fact, though the image he sent her was too shaky for her to determine details.

  If Rikbeek thought him or her a danger, that was good enough for her.

  ‘Time to go,’ she said, standing. ‘Quickly.’

  Tren, Devary and Indren were on their feet immediately, the latter two firing questions at her. She had no attention to spare, for Rikbeek’s warning turned suddenly to a mixture of panic and furious anger. He was under attack. She ran to the door and grabbed the key, but before she could get it open a familiar female voice spoke from behind her.

  ‘Is this yours?’