Frank-EReturn

by The Exile's Return [lit]

  Searlait noticed Darmyk fidgeting in his chair. I'll get Darmyk to his rooms and be back in a little bit."

  She departed with Darmyk in tow.

  Malthus put his arms around Merissa. She shuddered, her eyes wary and accusing. He pressed his face into her hair, kissed her head, and whispered in her ear. Yes, I did."

  Merissa pulled away from him and fled. Malthus followed her with a mask of worry on his face, and caught up to her in their suite. She stood trembling in the parlor, but when Merissa saw him, she retreated to the bedroom. You're killing my father."

  He dropped the bar, and entered the bedroom, chuckling. I left him dying on the stairs, my little cairden-spiursak. It's a shame Kissie found him. With any luck at all, he'll never wake."

  Merissa stood, back to the wall, hands over her ears, and tears streaming down her face. Malthus ... please stop. I don't want to hear this."

  "Once you started noticing the similarities between me and my brother..."

  "I hadn't noticed. Not really."

  "You're lying. How many months did you fuck my brother?"

  Merissa hesitated.

  "How many?"

  "All ... all winter. I was afraid of him. Troyes said he would kill my father."

  Malthus laughed. So I kill the old bastard instead. He proceeded to tell Merissa, in great detail, what he had done to her father.

  Merissa slid down along the wall, curling her legs beneath her, weeping.

  He bent over her, sneering in her face. Did you eat my brother? I'm told your father ate Troyes heart, and the rest of the guard, your mother and others, chopped him up and shared out the pieces."

  "I didn't touch him."

  "What about your aunts? Did they partake of this nasty little feast with my brother as the main course?"

  Merissa pressed her fingers into the sides of her head, digging at her temples, writhing and wanting desperately to lie. The coercions in her brain were too firmly lodged, forcing her to tell him the truth. Yet, fear and its attendant hysteria made it hard for her to remember, and in the end she blurted out, Yes. They were there. They ... they ate him."

  "Then they all die."

  "Oh, gods, Malthus, no. They're old. Have mercy."

  Malthus ignored her plea. Do you know who he wants for regent?"

  "Brock."

  "It's a long journey from Creeya. He'll never reach here alive."

  "Gods mercy. She clenched her eyes closed, and gasped out, Kynyr ... he'll stop you."

  "He's already dying, Merissa. I poisoned him."

  Merissa gave herself up to despair with a sob.

  Malthus knelt and unfastened her clothing.

  She shivered, but did not fend him off.

  "Open your legs; I've been waiting all morning for you."

  "I don't want you...."

  "Don't make me hurt you. I've laced my spells through your body for months ... as you slept."

  "I hate you."

  "Hate me all you wish. Just obey me."

  * * * *

  Darmyk clutched Searlait's hand as they walked down the hallway to his rooms. The journey home had left him tense and frightened. He knew he should have been worried about his grandpa, but the thought of Ros fangs overwhelmed everything.

  Searlait gave him a look of pity, and lifted him onto her hip despite the fact that he was becoming too heavy for her. He'll get better. Don't you worry."

  They turned a corner, and Darmyk spied seven-year-old Ros and her six-year-old sister Lyrri standing together in the hallway watching them. He shivered and the skin on his neck prickled.

  I want to suck you, Darmyk. I want to suck you dry. Ros mind voice echoed through his head along the link she had placed there when she first bit him.

  He wanted to cry, but held it in, expecting her to force him to go to her. The fact that she never did when an adult was present was no comfort. Darmyk shivered and pressed his face into Searlait's shoulder, her ginger hairso much like his mother'sfalling around him.

  Once he got to his rooms, that Pandeena had shielded, he would be safe.

  Searlait put him down in the parlor of his suite and pressed her hand to her back. My, you're getting heavy."

  Darmyk fled into his bedroom, crawled onto his bed, and sat sniffling. Why does Grandpa have to be hurt?"

  Searlait sat on the edge of his bed and hugged him again. She wished she were younger. A child, even a good one like Darmyk, could be a trial. She no longer had the strength to lift and carry him easily, which might have been more comforting to him. These things just happen."

  Malthus did it. I know he did it. Darmyk tensed. Then he remembered that Bodi had promised to meet him in his treehouse. I'm hungry. Can I get two pieces of pie and a really big chunk of cheese? And some nuts?"

  Searlait brightened. I'll go and have a servant bring them up."

  Darmyk stopped sniffling. Can you put it in a pail so I can eat in my treehouse?"

  "It's very cold out."

  "Please. If it's too cold for me, I'll come back inside."

  "All right."

  A nibari servant brought the lunch pail to Darmyk.

  Timerly was Kissie's twelve-year-old son, and was such a fine looking boy, blond and blue-eyed, that Claw had marked him for stud purposes when he got older. So Timerly had not been sterilized when the rest of the nibari boys in the household were. He lugged the pail in and sat it down heavily in front of Darmyk. There's enough for three. Are you going to play house with Ros and Lyrri?"

  Darmyk repressed a shudder at the thought of what Ros and Lyrri considered playing house, and shook his head. Nah, they're just bitches."

  Timerly laughed. They're pretty though."

  Darmyk caught a flash of an imagesomething he had never experienced beforefrom Timerly's mind: Ros had sucked Timerly and played with his body in a disturbing manner. Darmyk felt as if a hand had grabbed him by the throat and was choking the life out of him. I want to be alone."

  The moment that Timerly left, Darmyk rushed through his rooms, checking the warding signs that the priest had painted around it and only when he saw that they were all intact did he relax again. He knew that nibari liked being sucked, and needed to be bled in order to remain healthy, yet Darmyk knew he would never trust Timerly again.

  He threw his cloak around his shoulders, went to his window with the pail, and stepped outside onto the branch of the chestnut tree that grew to his window. With the easy balance of a lycanor sa'necariDarmyk scrambled across the branch to the tree house as fast as he could.

  Bodi sat in the middle of the floor playing with Darmyk's toys. The treehouse was as warm as springtime despite the winds howling outside it.

  "You're here! You're really here!"

  Bodi gave him an exaggerated nod. I gave my jurament to be here. So here I am."

  "You use funny words. Darmyk sat the pail down beside Bodi.

  "Pieface says I make them up, but I don't."

  A quizzical frown came over Darmyk's face. What's a jurament?"

  "What's in the bucket?"

  "Answer my question first."

  "My juramentmy oath. My promise. Now what's in the bucket? Bodi poked around in the pail and giggled. Pie. If Pieface knew I got some pie and he didn't he'd be chartreuse with envy."

  "Lunch for both of us. What's chartreuse?"

  "Green. You know. Green with envy. The chartreuse-eyed monster."

  Darmyk giggled and lost his troubles for a time, captivated by his strange new playmate. When it got late, Darmyk reluctantly said good night and headed for the window where he could climb onto the tree branch to return to his rooms.

  "Wait a minute. Bodi ran up to him. Still no cat?"

  Darmyk shook his head. We have cats to keep out mice and rats, but Kenly was special. A sudden tear slipped from the little boy's eyes.

  "I'll getcha a cat. What kind was he?"

  "A maned hunting cat."

  "Ouch, that's a tough one. Bodi chewed the inside of his lip as he thought. Tell y
ou what; I'll get you a special cat. A really, really special cat. But it'll probably take me a bit."

  Darmyk brightened and hugged Bodi. Thank you."

  "No problem."

  * * * *

  Cooley had nearly given up on Bodi, when the little boy returned as it was getting dark. Bodi danced into the room to the sound of music that only he could hear. Cooley laughed, tried to push himself up better on his pillows, and winced at the pain in his side. His new playmate bounced across to him, adjusted his pillows, and reached into a pocket. Bodi produced a handful of candies wrapped in wax paper twists.

  "Sugar Maple's special candy. That ought to fix you up."

  Cooley opened one and popped it into his mouth. A look of delight spread over his face and sense of well-being expanded through him. Is it magic?"

  "Sort of. It wears off after a while, but no harm done. And you'll like Sugar. She's sweet. Except of course if you aggravate her. She'll drop a tree on you."

  "Can I see the book again?"

  Bodi reached into a very small pocket and brought out a very large book. He laid it on Cooley's lap and pulled a chair up to the bedside.

  "Does it really have all the knowledge of the world in it?"

  Bodi gave a little shrug while swinging his feet back and forth. All that you can get into a dictionary. It's not an encyclopedia. It's just very locupletative."

  "What?

  "Never mind. Look it up when you get the chance. He cocked his head to an acute angle, watching Cooley turning the pages of his book.

  "I can't even spell it. Cooley paused to consider an illustration. I've always wanted to see a gryphon."

  "No, you don't. They'd eat you right up. That is unless they belonged to someone. I know someone with a pet gryphon. Actually I know many people with gryphons. But they'll eat you up if they don't know you. Can't tell a stranger from a dinner plate."

  Cooley giggled. You should show this to Kynyr Maguire. He loves books."

  "Who's Kynyr?"

  "The prince. Cooley wondered if there was anything about anything that could not be found in the book and decided to test it. There's a curse on his family."

  Bodi turned the book around and thumbed through the book and frowned. Nope. No Maguire's curse here."

  "It's not called Maguire's curse. It's called Weems curse or the Exile's curse."

  Bodi turned more pages and frowned. You must have the name wrong."

  "I don't have the name wrong."

  "Give me a clue then."

  So Cooley told Bodi about how Tarrant Redhand and Todd Sinclair had killed Alistar Weems for attacking Cahira. With his last breath, Weems laid the curse.

  A big grin spread over Bodi's face, and he paged through the book to the section starting with the letter L.

  "There it is!"

  And Bodi read the words to Cooley.

  When the Serpent comes, they all shall perish,

  The Redhands fall like sheaves of grain,

  Until only the Exile shall remain

  Of those who own their name.

  When Fireborn law breathes hot upon the root

  One born of fire shall perish for the truth

  The exile's victory shall be his pardon

  Those he claims will rule

  The prince from shadows shall emerge

  To sit a blood drenched throne

  Cooley let out a shriek. Kady! Kady, come here! I've found the words. I've found the words."

  CHAPTER SIXTEEN

  THE EXILE

  Stoneriver sat at the table in his favorite chair, his cheek propped on his knuckles. He had long since banished Larena from his mind, but Lady Maguire was another matter. He had not been able to stop thinking about her since she left.

  His friend, Aramyn, sat on the sofa in roughly the same spot that Larena had occupied that disastrous night.

  "So what do you make of her, Stoneriver? Aramyn asked.

  "Lady Maguire? Stoneriver lifted his head from his hand and straightened in his chair, clasping the ends of the chair arms that had been carved in the form of bear claws.

  "Yes."

  Stoneriver considered Aramyn for a time before answering. The unassuming mon was Lord Lieutenant to the Grand Master in charge of the operations branch of the Guild. Aramyn had rebuilt that branch from the bottom up following an attempted coup that had shaken the Guild to its core and ended with all the ruling family dead, except for the survivors of a hidden branch clan.

  "Strong, passionate, concerned ... very in love with her husband."

  "Honest?"

  "Yes. I can't say the same for her sister. It's hard to believe they're related."

  "How so?"

  "Larena is a slut."

  "You have that on good authority?"

  "She came to my room in her nightgown uninvited. She amused me ... played Jack in the Orchard with me. But more important she told me many things. At least fifty percent of it was lies, if not more."

  Aramyn whistled.

  Stoneriver shrugged. She's also pregnant."

  "You work fast."

  "Not mine. I can't produce a child."

  "You sure about that?"

  "I'm kweigeyl. I had my fertility sealed off. I never wanted to produce a child that might one day contest with my brother's family for control."

  Silence settled. Kweigeyl varied in its effects. It could reduce, eliminate, or destroy, depending on its application, sex drive and gender specific attributes, including fertility. Only a yuwenghau could set that spell; mostly those who were descended of Willodarus and Ishla.

  Aramyn chose to break that silence. So you are going home?"

  "I don't see that I have a choice. My family is in danger."

  "It's worse than you know. Aramyn pulled a sheaf of papers from his pouch and laid them on the table.

  Stoneriver slid them across the table and glanced at them. What's this?"

  "Reports from our agent in Wolffgard."

  Stoneriver's face darkened as he read. The sooner I'm home the better."

  "You're good, Stoneriver. But so's the Serpent. Don't go alone."

  "I don't intend to. I have a meeting with Alysyn today."

  "How's she holding up?"

  "Not well. She knew Yukiah was living on borrowed time, but losing him still hurt. Stoneriver poured a glass of wine and sipped it. You want to know what finally convinced me to go home?"

  "Yeah?"

  "Lady Maguire. Until I spoke with her, I was reluctant to go. Without knowing who she was really speaking to, she convinced me beyond all the shadows of my doubts. She's rallied me to her cause."

  "She made quite an impression on everyone."

  "A lady caused my exile and a lady has rescinded it."

  "Ironic."

  "There's a small favor I'd like to ask you."

  "If I can grant it, I will."

  "Could you air lift some agents into Wolffgard to keep an eye on Lady Maguire? Keep her safe until I can get there?"

  "I have a Shivari in place already. I could send three more."

  "Do it."

  "Consider it done."

  * * * *

  Stoneriver had barely finished his meeting with Alysyn when he was asked to speak with someone in Aramyn's study. The newcomer was striking. Possibly the most beautiful lycan bitch he had ever seen and it immediately put him on guard. The most beautiful to look upon were often the meanest in spirit and the most manipulative in his experience.

  "Can I help you?"

  She turned. I'm Pandeena. Are you Brock Redhand?"

  "I'm Captain Stoneriver, serving as Commander Redhand's aide-de-camp."

  "You're lycan?"

  "More or less. Stoneriver shrugged.

  She frowned as if perplexed by his answer. I was told I could speak to Brock, and to wait here for him."

  "Commander Redhand has been called away. I was just getting ready to join him when word reached me about your presence."

  "Then you can take me to him?"
/>   Stoneriver shook his head. I'm afraid I can't. You're a civilian and a foreigner. Netherguard regulations will not allow it. I wish I could help you."

  "But we need him."

  "Does this concern what is happening in Red Wolf?"

  "Yes."

  "Then perhaps I can reassure you. I'm carrying briefing documents to him about it."

  "Does that mean he'll come?"

  "Yes. Stoneriver unbent. He sensed nothing untoward about her, only a genuine concern. His encounter with Larena had put him back on guard again around pretty bitches. Can I offer you a glass of wine?"

  "Yes."

  "Red or white?"

  "White."

  "Please sit down. I see you share Lady Maguire's taste in wine. He went to Aramyn's liquor cabinet and poured glasses for both of them.

  Pandeena settled on the sofa and Stoneriver placed the glasses on the low table before it. He settled into a chair.

  "You're the one who came and spoke to the Grand Master?"

  "Yes, I am."

  "Let me tell you a little bit about Brock. I've known him ever since I arrived in Creeya."

  "A long time?"

  "A very long time. Stoneriver sipped his wine. My own story is similar to his. Except that the bitch involved was married to someone else. My own exile was self-imposed, unlike Brock's. He took me under his wing. He's been like a father to me. Bitterness twisted the corners of Stoneriver's mouth. The kind of father I should have had. The kind I had always wanted, unlike the drunken skirt-chaser I was born to. So I'm very protective of him."

  "Claw told me that Brock came to visit ten years ago and he was still young."

  Stoneriver sighed. That wasn't Brock. That was a Guild operative sent by Brock to check on his family. I was present at the planning session for it."

  "Is he long-lived?"

  "No. We chose to do it that way to confuse the issue. The Guild is very good at that."

  "So then ... he's old? Pandeena sounded disappointed.

  "He's old enough to be my father."

  "I see."

  "I wish I could tell you more, but I would be betraying classified information. Brock is the highest ranking lycan officer in the Netherguard."

  "But you are certain he's coming?"

  "Absolutely. Brock told me he was weeks ago. I was the one dragging my heels. I kept refusing to embark on this expeditionit's volunteers onlyuntil I met Lady Maguire. I made her a promise. Stoneriver chuckled. Brock says he's never going to let me live it down either."