"The night we left Wolffgard. Claw gave it to me ... begged me to wear it. He's extremely ill ... dying he says. I couldn't refuse."
Todd went to the cabinet near the door and took out a bottle of whiskey that Kynyr and he had stashed there the night before.
"Pour me one too."
Todd gave him a questioning look and grabbed a second glass. You don't usually drink this early."
"Lot on my mind. Kynyr settled on a chair at the table standing catty corner from the bed. He wanted to name me his heir. I refused. Now I'm cornered by a ring."
"Never underestimate Old Claw. Todd joined him and poured whiskeys for both of them. How did he know? Did you tell him?"
"Yeah, I told him. The day after his heart attack."
"I knew it had to happen eventually. I guess I always did. That's why I trained you so hard, Kynyr. Bran didn't have the right stuff."
"My father was a good mon."
"I'm not saying he wasn't. He was too gentle for his own good."
Kynyr dropped his eyes and stared into his glass. Somehow gentle seems like a bad word."
"It isn't. We need our myn of peace every bit as much as our myn of war. But, it is the duty of our myn of war to protect our myn of peace."
"Trevor tried."
"Kynyr, Bran went out to try and talk to them while Trevor got all the children to safety. Just as he got the last of the children out, Trevor heard your father scream."
"I didn't know. Kynyr fought down a wave of grief and knocked the whiskey back in his throat, pouring a second one. How's Gram handling all this?"
"Not well. I wish you had waited longer before you put that ring on."
"I didn't have a choice."
"You had a choice, Kynyr."
"Had I refused to wear it, I would not have been true to myself. Kynyr looked away again. Duty is where you find it."
* * * *
They gathered in an upstairs room that Amos rented out for meetings. It had a large table in the center. Fergus, Darcy, Lord Brodrig, and Father Gileaus were there on behalf of MacLachlan. Todd, Cahira, Finn, and Kynyr represented Red Wolf in the room. And a Sharani priest named Leanajys sat with an ha'tarenpaladin of Aroananear Cahira.
Cahira spread the map out on the table, placing small smooth rocks on the corners to hold it down, each a different color. Next, she set a bowl at the head of the map and filled it with water from a ewer. Opening a small black silk pouch, Cahira took out two clear crystals with long natural points. She placed one in the bowl of water.
Fergus scratched behind his ear. Won't they have some kind of wards up?"
"Exactly. Scry wards. This may take days to do, but I'm going to check each building on the map until I find one that I can't get into. That will be it."
Fergus whistled.
"I'm not as good as Pandeena, but I'm thorough. Thoroughness will make up for much."
The Sharani priest, Leanajys, looked at the crystal that Cahira held. Shouldn't that be on a chain?"
Cahira shook her head. I'm doing a Telesthesian scry. It's the best way to discover a warded place. Watch the bowl as I work.'
Kynyr leaned across for a look at the map. Did any of the brothels survive the fire?"
Darcy frowned at Kynyr. You're married."
Kynyr ignored her. Shortly after Cullen Blackwood was killed, the madam of the Crimson Lady sent me a letter. Later, I rode in and spoke to her. The sa'necari tried to buy her out. When she refused to sell, they employed other means to take control of it. My guess is that if there are any surviving brothels, that's where they'll be."
"None of them survived ... however, a new one went up. The Scarlet Petticoat. The Sharani officer said.
"Can you find it on the map?"
The Sharani officer scanned the map and put her finger on a spot.
Cahira laid the point of the crystal on the spot that the officer had indicated. She bent her powers and nothing happened. The water in the bowl remained clear. A prim smile spread across her delicate features. She moved the crystal to the building beside the brothel and the bowl filled with images. We found it. They're in the brothel."
CHAPTER TWELVE
THE HEIR WHETHER HE LIKES IT OR NOT
Using his cane, Malthus made his way through the halls of the manor early that morning. His wounded leg ached and twinged when he walked on it too much. He wondered how humans dealt with their wounds, or how they ever managed to survive the smallest of them. Had he dared to access his normal healing rate and fed on blood warm from the veins, Malthus would have been fully healed in less than a day. As it was, it was taking too long. Perhaps he needed to begin testing humans in his laboratories as well as lycans when the time came.
He found Claw in the Blue Room, sitting up alone. The chieftain kept kneading his left arm and digging the heel of his palm into the center of his chest as if he hurt. Malthus could tell that Claw was in bad shape, and guessed that pain was what had awakened the old bastard at such an early hour. It had to be severe to force Claw from a sound sleep. The room smelled of Claw's favorite tobacco, so Malthus knew that more of the spells were lodged in the old wolf's body.
A bottle of the cursed rum sat at Claw's right and a half-filled glass sat in front of him.
"It's a bit early to be drinking. Sun's barely over the horizon."
Claw paused in his rubbing and kneading to glare at Malthus. I'll drink when I want to."
"If you aren't feeling well, wouldn't that medicine Sheradyn mixed for you be better? Malthus voice filled with concern.
"You're sounding as bad as Aisha and Merissa. You didn't let them fuss over you . Fetch yourself a glass and have a drink with me."
Malthus pulled at his mustache. I don'toh, all right. Malthus took a glass from a cabinet and sat across from Claw, who immediately filled it to the brim with rum.
"They're always getting on me to give something else up. Claw growled loudly.
"Don't wake the household. One of those silly servants will immediately get Aisha up if they think there's anything wrong with you. Then Merissa will arrive and they'll try to put both of us back to bed."
"Too true. Just let the damned bitches sleep, Claw growled, his palm started again on his chest.
Malthus sipped at his glass, staring into the contents, and finding it hard to conceal his pleasure at the taste of death in Claw's aura.
Claw refilled his glass. They're trying to treat me like an invalid. It gets on my nerves."
"In your place, I would resent it too."
Claw drank two glasses in the time it took Malthus to finish one.
Malthus sipped thoughtfully, watching the lines of suffering deepen in Claw's face. The wolf was close to another heart attack. Malthus necromantic senses became aware of the increasing agony in Claw's auric field, the way the heart attack neared moment by moment. Anticipation filled Malthus with ecstasy. Any minute now ... any minute. Yes!
Claw went pale; sweat broke out on his grizzled face as he bent suddenly across the arm of his chair, his breathing hard. Gods, it's a bad one."
The chair tipped over and hit the heavy carpets with a dull thud, spilling Claw into a twisted heap where he lay unmoving.
Malthus left his chair too quickly and his injured leg gave, dumping him onto the floor beside Claw. He crawled closer, glanced around to see if anyone had heard them. Malthus turned Claw's face and saw that the chieftain was unconscious. That thrilled Malthus. Killing the old bastard properly would take more time than Malthus could risk, and doing it wrong could leave traces that Readers might question. He bent close and inhaled the fragrance of Claw's agony before slipping his hand inside Claw's robe. His smooth hand slid across Claw's hairy chest and came to rest over the chieftain's heart.
At least, he could hurry the process and with luck Claw would be dead by evening. Malthus sent three precision strikes into Claw's heart, damaging fresh sectors of the heart muscle and constricting the blood flow from his arteries. He wanted to do more, but his sense of caution
overrode his desires. He reminded himself that Claw was already dying; it was just a matter of pushing him over the edge; Malthus could afford to be patient.
Malthus used his cane and the edge of the table to get to his feet. Damnit. His insides were parched and he was totally unhappy being lame. He still had some bottles of blood in his carrying globes and Malthus intended to heal himself while everyone was too busy worrying about Claw to notice his own improvement.
He limped from the room and up the stairs, turning right along the corridor and pounded on Sheradyn's door. Claw's having an attack in the Blue Room. Quickly. Come quickly."
Gillivray opened the door, blinking and nodding sleepily. We're coming."
Sheradyn threw a robe on and grabbed his satchel. When they reached the Blue Room, the healer Read him and immediately administered a bluish powder to Claw's nostrils and gums, rubbing it in.
Malthus roused the servants to carry Claw to his bedroom. By then the entire household was moving. Merissa grabbed at Malthus and he slowed down, wrapping his arms around her. What happened? she asked, her eyes wide and wet.
"We were sitting here talking and he collapsed."
When they had gotten Claw to bed and left a servant to sit with him, Sheradyn called Aisha, Merissa, and Malthus into Malthus study. Two attacks this close together ... well, my news isn't good. Claw is old. His heart is worn out and it's failing him. There is a strong possibility that the next one will kill him. Sheradyn lowered his head, searching for words. And I expect that it could come in the next three ... maybe four weeks."
Merissa sobbed against Malthus shoulder while he held her long after the others had left.
Malthus patted and stroked, making comforting noises, yet all the while feeling exhilarated by the taste of Claw's pain.
* * * *
Claw looked up from the bed table when Pandeena entered. He shoved the sheaves of paper at her. Make three copies. I want yours, mine, and Caimbeul's signatures on them."
"What is it? Pandeena moved a chair close to the bed and sat down.
"My last will and testament."
"They told me you were ill, but not what."
"My heart. I've had two heart attacks in less than two months. Sheradyn says the next one will kill me. Claw looked down at his hands, clearly uncomfortable talking about it. He also doesn't think it's far off."
Pandeena lowered her eyes and then reached out a comforting hand to squeeze Claw's forearm. I'm sorry. Can I Read you?"
"You won't find anything that Sheradyn hasn't."
"But I would like to anyway."
Claw nodded and extended his wrist.
Pandeena Read Claw. She saw the extensive weakness of his heart, the narrowed arteries, and damage around his lungs also. Yet there was an odd residue of something. She could not quite call it arcane, and yet it was clearly not chemical. Sheradyn is right. I doubt you'll see Solstice."
"I thought as much. Claw grasped her hand as if he were fighting for words. I have a brother."
Pandeena's head came up and she regarded Claw in surprise. This is the first I've heard."
"We don't speak of him much. Brock left under a cloud a century ago. And it wasn't his fault. He's only been back twice. The last time was when Merissa was twelve. Claw paused, thinking. Odd thing was. He looked young enough to be his own grandson."
"Any long lived in your family?"
"None."
Pandeena pursed her lips and nodded. Yet you are sure it was Brock?"
"Yes. Now, take care of those papers, Claw told her. Don't let anyone know you have them."
"I promise."
"I want Brock as regent. He's in Creeya. Go to the Grand Master. Find my brother."
"I'll find him."
"Before you look at that ... do you know about Kynyr?"
Pandeena's brow furrowed into a distressed line. That his father was Tarrant's bastard?"
"How long have you known?"
"I'm long-lived. I fought in the battles of the Rebellion."
"You're that Moonbow?"
"Yes.'
"Tell me about my son and Cahira."
"It was after the Battle of Skeleton Creek where Tarrant was wounded. He was feverish and a bit addled. He kept calling her Brigit. She was just sixteen, young and inexperienced in her craft, but very talented. Cahira told me later that she had been so afraid that he was going to die ... that she did not resist when he pulled her into bed with him. The next day she told me what had happened and asked me to Read her. Tarrant had gotten her pregnant."
"I see. Claw could not hide his disappointment.
"No, you don't. As Tarrant healed, he fell more and more in love with her. The day before he rode off to Kinsdale Wood, he told Todd and me that he intended to marry her. Then he and Todd left and the Ambush at Kinsdale Wood happened."
"I thought Todd died there. Until I saw him last summer."
"So did I. One of the survivors told me that Todd kept fighting, covered in wounds, trying to reach Tarrant and save him. When Todd went down, the survivors broke and fled."
"I don't see how he lived."
Pandeena sucked in a breath and focused herself to finish the story. A peddler named Dyna stumbled upon Todd. She healed his wounds and nursed him back to health."
"Lifemage?"
"No. She had one of the last existing bottles of the Sapphire Elixir of Idyn in her possession. Pandeena decided that it was best not to tell him that the peddler had been Dynanna and that the elixir had been stolen from the Sun-God Kalirion. The Trickster stole from gods, dragons, demons, and mortals indiscriminately.
Claw considered that. I want Kynyr as heir, but he's already refused me twice."
"There are a lot of ifs, ands, and buts in this thing, Pandeena said as she read the documents and her eyes widened. You're disinheriting Merissa and her children?"
"Kynyr is my heir of choice. But if he won't take it, there's still his infant brother, Bran. Or the child that Kady is carrying. Claw managed a harsh chuckle. Kynyr doesn't want the throne. Brock might be able to change Kynyr's mind ... but who knows? I have to cover all possibilities. Assuming Brock refuses to come ... then Kynyr is my second choice for Regent. One way or another, heir or regent, Kynyr is getting stuck with the job."
"I'm in favor of that. When push comes to shove, I am certain that Kynyr will accept his duty to Red Wolf. I doubt you need to bring Brock into this."
"If matters are bad as I suspect, Pandeena ... Kynyr will need allies, powerful allies ... and only Brock can bring them."
When Pandeena left the manor, she carried the papers in her pouch. She had hated lying to Claw about her knowledge of Brock, but the more years Claw could add to estimate her agelessness, the more danger that he would figure out the truth. Walking quickly into a dense stand of trees in the nearby forest, she Jumped from Wolffgard to her mother's home. She found the long living room nearly empty for once. Little Moss ran yapping around her feet and she scooped the dog into her arms, scratching behind his ears.
A cheery fire burned in the hearth, throwing its warmth through the room to chase away the late autumn chill. Her mother, Navaryn, looked up from her conversation with Teakamon the Shepherd of the Wilds.
Navaryn crossed the room and hugged her daughter. What is it, dear? You look like you have something on your mind."
"I do. She explained about Claw and Brock. I've never been to Creeya, so I can't get a psychic fix on it to Jump there."
Teakamon flicked back his heavy green hair that hung to his waist. Dynanna and Dynarien have been there, but they've been elusive lately."
"Dynarien I can understand. He's caught up in this triadic marriage of his to Edouina Hornbow and Talons Trollbane. But Dynanna dragged you all out here to fight the dark ones and protect a child ... a child I might add who is threatened by the Serpent. Then she just disappears to play a lone hand as usual. Pandeena did not attempt to conceal her irritation.
"I could ask my stepmother to help, suggested Teakamon.
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Pandeena shook her head at that. I would never feel comfortable calling upon the Queen of Imralon. Will you ask the others when they show up? It may take time finding Brock and I want to start as soon as possible."
"Certainly, Pandeena, said Teakamon. They come through all the time."
* * * *
Lying in bed, spooned around Darcy MacFie, Finn MacIver decided that being spiritbrother to a prince had its advantages. He did not mind being second choice, so long as he got chosen for some of life's more delightful pastimes. He had never had such an energetic bedmate before. Darcy was as passionate in bed as she was on the battlefield.
Finn nuzzled her neck, his frost blond hair contrasting against her crimson locks. She opened her eyes, giving him a deceptively languid glance as she ground her buttocks into his loins. He tongued her maimed ear.
A preemptory knock sounded on his door, it opened, and Erskine stuck his head inside without waiting for an answer. Finn, haul your ... uhmn ... You've got company."
Darcy sat up with a snarl, grabbed an empty whiskey bottle from the nightstand, and threw it at him.
Erskine retreated, and gave his message through the closed door. Finn, Kynyr wants you and Darcy in the command room anon."
"We'll be there. Finn turned to Darcy with a wry grin. It's not nice to throw things at a superior officer."
"He's not my superior."
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
UNWANTED DISCOVERIES
Claw sat alone in the Blue Room, playing a hand of solitaire. Merissa had gone to visit her granddam, taking Darmyk, Aisha, and his two sisters with her in their carriage. Normally he would not have felt so alone. After all, he had the servants and the myn-at-arms. They were only going for a day, and would return by nightfall.
It had been difficult for him to get his bitches back to a normal routine, to persuade them to stop fussing over him. If he was going to die, then he would die whether they were gone or not. Deep down inside, Claw did not want Aisha with him when the end came. The old chieftain wanted to spare her the sight of him slipping away. With luck, when the time finally came, it would be while they were away on one of their regular visits to see Aisha's mother.
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