"Run, Kady! Run!"
She glanced back and saw Rory and Hamish moving small crates into the middle of the floor, turning the shop into an obstacle course to slow Kynyr's pursuit of her.
* * * *
Claw kneaded his left arm as he shed his clothing and climbed into bed with Aisha. Everything that he had learned from Lokynen had left him troubled, and as he had done throughout their century of marriage, Claw sought comfort in making love to his wife. He remembered how it had first been when he courted her, and Aisha had been the fieriest young bitch in the valley. She had made him chase her through the woodlands in wolf form for the right to mate with her, and when he had caught her beneath the moonlight....
As always, they coupled in hybrid form so that he could feel her soft fur beneath his hands. Stroking and licking each other, Claw finally began to forget his worries, and completely separated himself from them as he entered Aisha and heard her moaning beneath him in response to his thrusting.
Claw stiffened as a fist of pain slammed him in the chest. His eyes widened and he blinked, before toppling across her. My ... heart, he gasped, and then darkness claimed him.
"Claw? Dread fluttering in her stomach like ugly moths around a candle, Aisha pushed at him, and got no response. Claw?"
She touched his face. Claw, please wake up."
Still no response.
Aisha turned him on his side, and slipped from beneath him. She grabbed a robe, wrapped herself in it, and went to the suite next door to her own, pounding on it to wake Isbeth and Kissie, the two nibari who were the principal ones on call for her needs.
Isbeth answered the door, tying her robe closed. Mistress?"
"Wake Sheradyn, it's the master."
Isbeth's eyes rounded with concern and worry, as she ran off to fetch the healer from his bed.
Kissie appeared and cradled Aisha's elbow, steadying the old lycan as they returned to Aisha and Claw's suite. She brought Aisha to a chair in the bedroom, and then tucked a blanket around Claw. I'll fetch something for your nerves."
Aisha sat rigidly in her chair, her knuckles whitening as she tried not to appear like the frightened, worried bitch she was on the inside. Her sharp hearing picked up the sounds of Kissie waking more of the nibari. It was a sign of Claw's wealth that they could afford so many of the docile and devoted slaves. She had very few lycans among the household staff. Isbeth, Kissie, and the others never failed her, and never complained.
By the sound of hurried footsteps, the entire household had begun to awaken.
Sheradyn and Gillivray arrived with their satchels and got Claw shifted onto his back in the middle of the bed. Gillivray cleared off the nightstand, while Sheradyn settled into a chair and gripped Claw's wrist, Reading him.
Merissa entered the suite with Malthus at her side. She went to her mother and squeezed her arm. What happened? Merissa asked, in a hushed voice.
"I don't know, Aisha said. We were ... talking. And your father fell over."
Kissie returned with toddy, and pressed it into Aisha's hands. This will steady you."
Aisha nodded without taking her eyes from Merissa. Thank you, Kissie."
Sheradyn administered a bluish powder to Claw's nostrils and gums, and then Read him again. He's had a heart attack. Has Claw ever said anything at all about chest pains?"
"No. Why?"
"Because there is a lot of old damage. It leads me to suspect that he might have been having small heart attacks and angina for months."
"He's said nothing at all about it."
Malthus covered his reaction to that news by turning his head away. I've been more successful than I knew. The old bastard has been keeping secrets.
"Aisha, I want you to understand how serious this is. At the rate of progression, judging from the past damage, Claw will probably not be with us come spring. If I cannot get it under control, I would say his chances of living until winter solstice are extremely poor."
Aisha sucked in a sharp breath and blinked back tears.
"Get some rest, Aisha. Gillivray and I will sit up with him tonight."
"Get some rest all of you, Gillivray said, making a shooing gesture.
Aisha went to Claw and kissed his forehead. I'll sleep in another suite tonight."
"Mother, you shouldn't be alone."
Aisha shook her head. I won't be. I'll comfort nest with Isbeth and Kissie."
Merissa kissed her father and walked back to their chambers in Malthus arms.
Malthus worked hard at keeping a concerned expression. He had decided to hasten Claw's death, using stronger spells. He wished he could have been present to see the old bastard collapse. Claw would have his next heart attack within a few weeks, maybe even a few days; depending on how much Claw wanted another drink of the Faery wine and how often he stressed his failing heart. Finally, Claw's attacks will come in quickening succession, one after another, and another, and another, until.... I'll help Merissa pick out a nice black dress to wear at her father's funeral. Claw will be dead by early winter at the latest.
Drinking that first glass of wine with Malthus had insured that the old wolf had only a few months left to live. Claw liked to pour his own wine. The spell on the bottle had been keyed to Claw. So Malthus had been able to drink it safely, and the death magic had poured down Claw's throat, settled into his bloodstream and been drawn through his veins to his heart where it was lodged until it killed him. Everyone else but Claw would be able to pour a glass from those bottles and be unaffected.
He would also refresh the spells on all of Claw's pipes once the household slept again. Claw's heart attack had provided the distraction he needed to achieve his next goal.
Malthus waited until he was certain that Merissa slept soundly and went out to the barn. He slipped his horse and a pack animal out, and rode to his cottage. Hanging from a tree branch where the predators could not get it was the carcass of a deer that Preece and Rheu had killed for him.
He rode back with it to one of the places he had discovered that Kenly frequented in his nightly foraging. Malthus sliced the deer carcass open in several places, and poured into it a special poison that he had blended. He splashed it on the entrails, and rubbed another type into the flesh.
Malthus straightened and slipped the empty vials into his pouch. It occurred to him that he ought to take Cahira's talents into consideration. Scrying was a fairly common gift among mages. He had not yet managed to fully assess her abilities, and she might try to scry for the cat out of her evident fondness for Darmyk. Malthus set scry-wards around the clearing, adding spell traps and arcane trip wires of dark energy. Anyone with mage gifts, who stumbled upon the clearing, either psychically or physically, would die.
When he finished, Malthus careful disguised his track so that Kenly would not know that he had touched it and withdrew to watch.
Just an hour past midnight, the big cat made his usual circuit of the nearest stand of woodlands. Kenly sniffed around the carcass and then bit into it. He ate rapidly. Malthus watched him tear at the meat, swallowing it in huge chunks. He had used an arcane poison that the healers would have trouble identifying. It would act swiftly, and within an hour the cat would be dead.
Midway through its meal, the cat began to groan and whimper, writhing upon the ground. When Kenly's final convulsions began, Malthus strode from his hiding place and kicked him. Kenly managed a fading snarl, and stilled. Malthus dragged the cat's carcass, along with that of the deer across his irrfelghau-trained horse and rode to a high point of the cliffs over the Eirlys River. There he cast them both over the edge to be swept away by the rushing waters.
The household would most likely be too caught up in worrying over the chieftain to go searching for the cat, and even if they did, Kenly's carcass would never be found.
Now, he needed to work a bit harder on Claw. The sooner the chieftain died, the better off Malthus would be. Claw's bitches would prove very cooperative without him. Of course, they would be even more cooperative d
ead. And so would Kynyr Maguire.
CHAPTER SIX
VICTIMS
The lycan chieftain Claw Redhand opened his eyes and saw Aisha sitting on the chair beside the bed, knitting. His right arm felt impossibly heavy as he reached for her. Claw was one hundred and twenty three years old, and yet he had never felt so weak before in his life. He seemed to remember something happening to him, a terrible pain, pressure in his chest, and then nothing.
Aisha dropped her knitting, grabbed his hand, and held his fingers against her face.
"Aiii ... sssssha. He breathed her name out in a hoarse whisper. What ... happened? I feel so ... weak."
Aisha kissed his fingers and the back of his hand, crying softly. I'd begun to think you'd never wake up."
"Why? He closed his eyes again, unable to keep them open.
"You had a heart attack."
Claw lay still, searching for words, feeling suddenly vulnerable. He had been expecting this; and yet, now that it had happened it made him bitter and resentful. Usually the members of his family were hale and hearty all the way to the end. He wondered what could possibly be different in his case. How bad?"
He heard Aisha swallow several times, followed by a small sniffle. That did not sound good. Claw tensed as he waited for the bad news.
"Sheradyn says there will be no more working in the fields for you."
A tiny catch in her voice told him that she was holding something back. Claw forced his lids open, and saw that Aisha's eyes had moistened. Neither one of them had been ready to get old, and the suddenness with which it had descended upon him gave Claw a hollow feeling. It seemed just yesterday that he had been young and chasing his beloved Aisha through the forests in the moonlight. He tried to think of words to comfort her with, to reassure her so that she would not worry about him. Claw did not like to see her distressed. We get old, Aisha, but I'm too tough to die on you yet."
Aisha managed a trembling smile and hugged him again. I've been so worried ... you haven't been more than semi-conscious since yesterday."
"Aisha, Aisha, Aisha, you precious old bitch. Will you still love me now that I'm an old dog?"
"How could I do otherwise? She bent and kissed him. We were so worried."
"Hush. Enough of that. I'll be careful and we'll have years yet. I want to see my grandchildren grow up. Claw managed to get his arms around her and held her pressed to his chest.
"Darmyk's been desperate to see you, but Sheradyn says that a cub would be too exhausting for you."
Claw snorted. I'll not have them keeping the cub away. He's a good cub."
Concern deepened in Aisha's voice. He's lonely. Kenly is missing."
"Missing? Claw tensed up again and it made his chest tighten. He released Aisha and tilted her careworn face so that he could see her expression.
"The cat went missing last night."
"Tell Belgair I said to have some myn look for him."
"He kept telling me I was being a foolish old bitch. That the cat would come back when he was ready to."
"Tell him I said it was an order. Claw bristled. I'll have a word with him if I have to. No dog wolf should be so uncaring about the heartfelt needs of bitches and cubs. Claw did not remember Belgair being so insensitive before. Something had changed about the mon, and Claw could not quite put his finger on it. Belgair had always been an exemplary Captain of the Guard, but if he had started ignoring the bitches and the cubs.... Tell Belgair I'll send him packing and give Kynyr the job, if he doesn't do what you tell him."
* * * *
Kady blinked sleepily in the morning sunlight, rolled over, and stroked Kynyr's face.
"Mmm. Kynyr kissed her on the nose and slipped his hand between her legs. Change for me?"
"Convince me."
"We had a wonderful night. Kynyr stroked her hair, her face, and her breasts. Can I sleep here again?"
"My bed is your bed. She shifted into her hybrid form.
Kynyr changed into his hybrid form and kissed her. The Autumn Hall has opened for the season. Shall we go dancing this evening?"
"I'd love to. Kady changed the rest of the way into a wolf and flicked her tail in his face.
Kynyr swatted at her tail. Shameless hussy."
" Only with you . She flicked her tail in his face again.
Kynyr completed the change, licking and nuzzling her. She cocked her bushy tail to the side, indicating her readiness and Kynyr mounted her. Kady let out a long moan as they became locked together.
* * * *
Merissa Redhand Estrobian sat brushing her heavy ginger hair. She wanted to be as presentable as possible when she went to see her father now that he was awake at last. A few things could be done about her face and her hair so that she would not look like she had been crying all night.
She looked at her reflection in the mirror, laid the brush aside, and laced her fingers across her swollen belly. Her abdomen was expanding faster with this pregnancy than it had with Darmyk, but Sheradyn said that was because she carried twins this time.
Darmyk came in and wrapped his small arms around her. Kenly's still missing."
Merissa ruffled his dark curls. Her son would be three in two more months, but his lycan blood had given Darmyk the maturity of a seven-year-old human. We'll look for him. I promise."
"When?"
"Soon. Merissa wondered why Kenly had chosen to vanish the same night that her father had his heart attack. She pushed the event aside as coincidence. Kenly was old enough to be attracted by the scent of a she-cat in heat, and that probably accounted for his absence.
"Can I visit Grandpa?"
Merissa hugged Darmyk. No, sweetheart. He's not well enough yet."
"I'd be good, he promised, sounding more and more forlorn.
Merissa kissed his forehead. I know."
Darmyk looked so much like his father, Isranon, that it caused a catch in Merissa's throat. If only Isranon had known Darmyk, seen him, then maybe Isranon would never have written that terrible letter repudiating his child.
"Are you bothering your mother? Malthus entered the room, pulling at his long, thin mustaches and his oak leave beard.
Darmyk glared at his stepfather. I'm not bothering anyone."
"Go play, Malthus ordered him.
"I hate you, Darmyk snarled, backing away from his mother. Abruptly he spun and ran out.
"I ought to turn him over my knee for that."
Merissa caught Malthus arm. Please, he's young. Give him time."
"Your father spoiled him. Malthus expression softened and he kissed her deeply, his tongue twining with hers. They parted and he said to her, I love making babies with you. We'll have a large family."
Merissa caught his hand as he caressed her belly. Yes, Malthus. Her tone was submissive. She would have liked to space her pregnancies out, but from the way that he talked, Merissa knew that Malthus would never allow that. Merissa should have considered the fact that Malthus was human, and in Waejontorat leastthe males liked to keep their wives full in the belly at all times. Furthermore, Merissa knew her duty as a wife, and she would fulfill it.
Isranon's face flashed through her mind and her throat tightened again. She would never have minded the situation as much if it had been Isranon in her bed. During their courtship, Malthus had taken her mind off Isranon, and helped her forget the lettersone from Isranon and one from Nevin, both saying that Isranon wanted no part of Darmyk. Merissa had believed that she was in love with Malthus, but more and more she realized that she was still in love with Isranon.
"Come, darling; let's go see your father."
* * * *
Todd went down to the shop. The replacement glass had arrived for the display cabinet that Kynyr had broken the night that his father had been murdered. Todd did not hold with displays of temper like that, and only the depth of Kynyr's grief had saved him from a tongue-lashing. Todd laid his tools out on the rear table and started removing the bolts that held the broken panel in place. The broken piece had
been promised to the local glassblower who intended to melt it down and reuse it. Lycans hated waste and produced very little real trash as a result. They recycled anything and everything that could be. Accounts of how the earlier races had turned the world into a trash bin filled their lore.
Someone knocked on the front door and then peered through the window. Todd opened the door, eyeing the tense look on Erskine's face. What's wrong?"
"Is Kynyr here?"
"He's asleep upstairs."
"Claw had a heart attack last night."
"How bad? Todd remembered the day of the ambush, when he caught Claw dosing himself with Foxglove extract.
"He's conscious, but very weak."
"Why didn't you send for Kynyr last night?"
"Aisha didn't want to rob Kynyr of a night with his lady. We need him right now."
"I'll get him."
Todd knocked on Kynyr's door and when he got no answer, he looked inside. Kynyr's bed had not been slept in. He was certain that Kynyr had said he was spending the night.
Kady came out of her bedroom looking flushed. Something had changed about her.
"Are you okay, Kady?"
"I think so. She gave Todd a mysterious smile and headed downstairs to open the shop.
Todd got one of his suspicions and walked down the hall to Kady's room. He leaned against the wall and waited facing the door. It opened quietly and Kynyr slipped out of the room looking heated and rumpled.
Todd folded his arms and cleared his throat.
Kynyr straightened. Good morning? he asked tentatively.
"When did you start sleeping in Kady's bed?"
Kynyr flushed to the roots of his hair. Last night."
"Whose idea was that?"
"Kady proposed it."
"So are you doing it in bed as human or wolf?"
"Uhmn. Kynyr squirmed. Both."
"Her idea?"
"We have an agreement. Well, you see ... I kept catching her so quick ... she hasn't gotten away from me once in two weeks. So ... you see ... she decided..."
"She surrendered? Todd's expression softened and he chuckled.
"Yeah."
Todd sobered, putting a stop to that discussion with a wave of his hand. Claw had a heart attack last night. Erskine's waiting for you downstairs. Get your gear together."
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