Tormina: The Book of Maladies

by D. K. Holmberg

  Bastan stared at her for a moment. “She was a friend.”

  A friend. Bastan didn’t admit to having too many friends, so for him to say that told Sam this person had been more than just a contact and meant much more to him than he had let on. “What if I told you that I knew something about what happened to this friend of yours?”

  “I would tell you that was valuable.”

  “The person who is responsible is dangerous, Bastan.”

  “You don’t think that I’m dangerous?”

  “You’re dangerous, but this person…”

  Bastan smiled. “This person what?”

  “This person is probably more dangerous than you.” When he frowned, she shrugged. “I’m sorry. I know you take pride in your position, but there are some things that even the great Bastan isn’t equipped to handle.”

  “And you are?”

  “Maybe not yet. Not the way I might need to be. But I’m getting there,” she said. She would continue to train, because that was what was needed for her to understand her Kaver abilities, but her desire to continue to train was about more than that. It was about being able to defend herself, and being able to counter Ralun if he were to attack again. Now that he knew more about her, she suspected that he would attack.

  And what role would Tray have in that?

  Sam didn’t like to think about her brother being involved with Ralun, but what better way for him to understand his connection to the Thelns than going to someone like Ralun? And what did his connection mean?

  Those are questions that she would have to save for Marin if she could ever find the woman.

  That was why she needed Bastan. She needed information. Not only about Tray—and Bastan would be able to help with that, she suspected, but also about Marin and this Scribe.

  For her to get Bastan’s help would require Sam to reveal information. That was how it worked with Bastan. He needed an equal exchange.

  “Tray took Marin somewhere. The man I believe attacked your contact—a Theln—is working with Tray.”

  “I remember you mentioning something about Thelns before. You said they were dangerous.”

  “They’re very dangerous.”

  “And they were responsible for destroying my first tavern?”

  “As far as I know,” Sam said.

  “Do you know that we heard nothing after that attack? There was no reason for it. There was no word about the intent behind it. There was simply the explosion in the city and the nothing more. It’s unusual. Typically, if someone were to come at me, they would continue to come at me, but these people did nothing other than destroy my tavern. And you know something about it?”

  “I know that they attacked you because they were trying to get to me.”

  “Interesting. And what about now?”

  “Now might be the same. Especially now that he knows that I’m here.”

  “From the way you describe the last time you faced him, he was aware of you, and came after you in particular.”

  “He did, but he also did so back when I knew nothing.”

  “And now you know something?”

  “More than I did before.”

  “And this is why I should help you?”

  “If you want to get revenge for your friend’s death, you should help me. Listen. I don’t know exactly what purpose he has in coming back to the city. From everything I’ve heard, there should be no reason for him to be here, but he is. So—”

  Bastan leaned forward. “But you say he’s here because of you?”

  “I don’t know.”

  Bastan watched her for a moment. Sam did her best to hold his gaze. She’d known Bastan a long time and had been on the receiving end of that accusatory stare before, but even after all these years, it was hard not to look away. There was an intensity to his gaze, and something like compassion. That last part was what troubled her the most. It unsettled her to have Bastan looking at her with anything bordering on compassion.

  “There is some rumor of movement near the northern edge of the city,” Bastan said, shuffling some papers on his desk. “Typically, something like that wouldn’t gain much attention, but considering what happened, and the way that my last contact disappeared”—he looked back up at her, an unreadable expression on his face—“I question this one a little bit more. I intend to go and look into it myself.”

  Sam frowned. “You’re going to go yourself?”

  “Shouldn’t I?”

  “If it’s this man, then you absolutely shouldn’t.”

  “If it’s this man, then I absolutely should,” Bastan said.

  “You don’t understand, Bastan.”

  “What I understand is that whoever this man is has you scared. I understand that he might be the one who hurt someone I promised to protect. And I understand that you are keeping something from me, and whether it’s because you think to protect me or for another reason, I don’t particularly care for it.” He glanced back down to his pages. “Now, if you are interested in finding out what’s going on, you’re welcome to come with me.”

  Sam blinked. That was perhaps the most unusual part of this entire conversation. She had often done jobs for Bastan, but she had never worked with Bastan. He must have taken jobs on his own at one point, but as long as she had worked for him, she had never seen him do so. The way that some people talked about him indicated that he had some skill, and Sam wouldn’t be surprised to find out that he was a skilled thief, but going after a Theln? Even with augmentations, Sam wasn’t sure that was something that she wanted to do.

  “Bastan—”

  “Sam.” He looked up, his hands resting crossed on the desk. “As I said, you’re welcome to come with me, but don’t think I’m going to provide you any details otherwise. This isn’t a job that I’m going to assign to you. If you want to know more about what I might have heard, you will have to come with me.”

  “Even if it means placing yourself—and me—in danger?”

  Bastan studied her for a long moment. “How do you think I’ve risen to my position, Samara? Do you think that I’ve done it by avoiding danger?”

  “No, it’s just—”

  “It has taken me being willing to put myself into harm’s way. Sometimes, I do so knowingly, and sometimes, I run into unanticipated challenges. Either way, I’m not necessarily afraid.”

  “When it comes to the Thelns, you should be.”

  Bastan studied her for a moment before offering a slight shrug of his shoulders. “You decide whether you intend to come with me, Sam. I suspect that I will leave soon.”

  What choice did Sam have? She wanted to learn more about what Marin might be doing, and where Tray might be holding her, and that meant finding Ralun and figuring out what he was after. Everyone seemed to think he was after Sam, but she doubted she was enough of a threat to draw him into the city. That meant there was something else that he was after.

  What was it? And how was he even here? If the canals were intact—if the attempt to poison the eels had failed—how had Ralun and the Thelns reached the city?

  But of greater interest to her was the Book. If she could find the Book, she could finally begin to understand something about herself. She might finally understand what happened to her and where she came from. And why Marin had used her.

  “Fine. I’m coming with you.”

  Bastan nodded as if it had never been in question.

  21

  Late Night in the Library

  Beckah pointed to the side of the hallway, pushing Alec over there. It was dimly lit, a single lantern near the end of the hall the only light at this time of day, and otherwise empty. It was late enough that they were the only ones wandering about. Were they discovered, they would have to answer questions about their presence, questions that wouldn’t necessarily have easy answers.

  “Are you sure you saw her come through here?” Alec asked.

  “I already told you that,” Beckah said, annoyance in her voice.

 
Stefan shook his head. “My grandmother wouldn’t come to the library. She would have books brought to her. You don’t understand what she’s like.”

  “I understand her by her reputation,” Beckah said. “Just as I understand that even people who we don’t normally see in the library often wait until it’s empty, and then they will when they have free rein within it.” She looked over at the two of them, frowning. “And if you don’t think your grandmother goes to the library, then you haven’t been paying attention. I’ve seen her there several times. She never stays in the common section, always going back to the area exclusive to the masters, but she has been there, especially lately.”

  Stefan frowned. “Lately? What would have come up for Grandma Helen to have decided to go to the library? It’s not as if there’s anything there she needs to be researching.”

  “That’s where I think you’re wrong,” Beckah said. “She’s working on something. Regardless of whether you know it or not, there is something there that she is looking into.”

  “Why do I get the sense that you’re intending to see what she might be after?” Stefan asked.

  “It’s not for me. All of this is for Alec and his issue.”

  Stefan looked at Alec. “Why again do you need to find Master Eckerd?”

  “Let’s just say that I think that Master Eckerd can help me explore my studies better.” He hadn’t decided how much to share with Stefan, and he didn’t like the idea of keeping things from him, but there didn’t seem to be much of a choice. If he could get them to Master Helen, then she could decide how much to reveal. Until then, Alec didn’t feel comfortable revealing anything to anyone else. Had Beckah not already known, he would’ve kept it from her.

  “You know, we don’t have to be so careful heading into the library. Just because it’s late doesn’t mean that were not allowed to go there,” Stefan said.

  “We’re not disallowed, but it would raise questions,” Alec said without thinking. He should have known better.

  “Why would it raise questions?” Stefan asked.

  Beckah pushed him. “Only because Alec is being ridiculous. I think he’s nervous about the attention he’s getting from various masters.”

  “I would think he would be happy with that attention. It’s because of that attention that you’ve been allowed into the surgical suite. You even got Master Jessup talking about you, and I can’t remember the last time he’s spoken so highly of someone.”

  “That’s the kind of attention I don’t want to get,” Alec said. “It gets people talking about me.”

  “People were talking about you even before,” Stefan said. “You might as well enjoy it.”

  Alec sighed. “I don’t know that there’s anything I can enjoy, not when it comes to this.”

  He looked at the door to the library, and he made a decision, pushing it open. Beckah followed him, with Stefan only a little behind them.

  Once inside, they found the library darkened. Alec wasn’t surprised by that. It was well beyond the normal time for students to use the library, and anyone coming after hours would likely be one of the masters, not someone who would require the librarian’s assistance. He turned the brightness up on one of the lanterns and looked around. It was strange being in the library with it completely empty.

  “Where did you hear her—”

  Alec cut off when he heard voices near the back section of the library. They came from the masters’ section, and he motioned to his friends, pointing for them to follow him.

  He was sure Beckah had said she’d seen Master Helen come here by herself. Would she have been meeting someone else at this late hour?

  As he leaned in, he recognized one of the voices.

  It was Master Carl.

  He couldn’t hear what he was saying, only the mumbling tones of the way he spoke, and Alec sensed some agitation in it.

  Stefan prodded Alec. “That’s Grandma Helen,” he mouthed, not speaking anything over a whisper.

  At least Alec knew that the other voice was Master Helen. “Why would she have come here with Master Carl?”

  Beckah smirked. “I can think of a reason,” she whispered.

  Alec wrinkled his nose. “That’s awful.”

  “Maybe for you, but they knew each other before. Who’s to say that isn’t the reason he’s here?”

  There was movement near the door, and someone shuffled closer.

  Alec motioned for them to move out of the way, and they all ducked behind stacks.

  The door opened, and Master Carl popped out.

  Alec froze in place. They had left the lantern lit. If Master Carl paid attention to it, he would realize that someone had come in here after he had come, and Alec certainly didn’t want to be caught by Master Carl observing his and Master Helen’s quiet tryst.

  Master Carl hurried past them without even a glance, He left the library, closing the door behind him.

  Alec breathed out heavily.

  He looked over at his friends, and neither of them moved.

  The door to the masters’ section opened again, and there was the shuffling sound of Master Helen as she appeared. She paused, looking around the library. Alec could see just the top of her head as she studied the library.

  “You may step out.”

  Alec swallowed, and Stefan started to move, but Alec grabbed him by the sleeve and held him in place. He raised a finger to his lips and stepped around the bookshelf he’d been hiding behind. “I only came to research—”

  Her gaze flicked to the lantern. “Research at this time of night?” Master Helen asked. She frowned, and her graying hair was frazzled, but otherwise she looked just as stern as she usually did. There was something about her that intimidated Alec, and he didn’t know whether it was her intellect—rumored to be the greatest of any of the masters at the university—or her age and experience.

  “I’m looking for something on referred pain. I thought that I would try to demonstrate to—”

  “Yes. I understand that you would like to prove to Master Carl that you know more about abdominal ailments than a master physicker.”

  Alec flushed, hating that he believed he did. “It’s not that I know more than a master physicker, it’s just that I have read through several journals with reference to various ailments, all of them indicating that there was such a referred type of pain.”

  Master Helen nodded. “Indeed. I’m sure more than a few of those were mine.”

  Alec’s eyes widened. “Yours?” He thought of the tight script and tried to remember what he had read of one of the illnesses. It was described as a shoulder pain, but the source was the abdomen rather than the shoulder. It was an interesting presentation, but he wouldn’t have expected that to have come from Master Helen. Wouldn’t she have labeled her journals differently? These had been only initials, and he didn’t recall them being her initials.

  “Tell me why you’re really here, Mr. Stross. First, I see you at the palace. Now, I find you here, in the library, well beyond normal student hours, when you must have observed me coming in. Are you attempting to harass me?”

  “Not harass. I’m only trying to understand a few things.”

  “And what are you trying to understand?”

  He glanced back toward the shelves, where Stefan remain hidden. He had to be careful with how he approached this, since Stefan didn’t know about the Kavers and the Scribes. If he said too much, Stefan might begin to ask questions. It wasn’t that he was trying to hide anything from his friend; it was that he didn’t want to pull Stefan into a situation where he could end up in trouble.

  “I want to know how many have knowledge about documentation.”

  That seemed to be sufficiently vague and might avoid too many questions from Stefan, though Alec suspected he would have some questions. It was a risk that Alec would have to take.

  Master Helen narrowed her eyes. “Am I supposed to understand what you mean?”

  “I think you do know what I mean. I’ve been looki
ng for Master Eckerd, and I would ask him, but I haven’t been able to find him for the last week or more.”

  “No? And why would you think to look for Master Eckerd?”

  “Because I have questions, and he had been answering them for me until he went missing.” Alec no longer lowered his voice as he knew he should. He knew he needed to be more careful, especially with Stefan, knowing that his friend had a quick mind and would surely ask questions later, but now that he had an opportunity to have Master Helen in front of him, and now that he knew he needed to gather the masters together, maybe there was something she could do to help.

  “It’s more than that, isn’t it?”

  “It’s more than that,” Alec agreed. “There is a master physicker that I need to find.”

  “Which master is that?”

  “I don’t know.” When Master Helen frowned at him, Alec shrugged. “I don’t know because I don’t know who he is. My… friend… had an encounter with him, and she would recognize his voice, but we don’t have any other way of finding him other than by his voice.”

  Master Helen studied him, and then her gaze looked behind him. “Your friend had this experience?”

  “Yes, and she would like to know who to thank for it.”

  Master Helen frowned. “There are several dozen master physickers. I think to find this person, you will need to be a little more explicit.”

  “I would love to be,” Alec said, “but as I said, I don’t know much more than what I’ve told you. We thought that perhaps a gathering of the master physickers would allow her to identify him by voice, and if she could, then she could offer her thanks for her experience.”

  “Her thanks?”

  Alec nodded.

  “There are few such occurrences. The only time the master physickers gather is at the promotion of another master.”

  “That’s the only time?”

  “Yes. There is an expectation that all master physickers attend the promotion. It is a time of celebration.”

  Alec hesitated before asking the next question. He thought he knew the answer, but he needed to ask anyway. “When will the next such promotion take place?”