by Sharon Green
“Tell this idiot of yours to get out of my way!” she snapped, outrage almost making the words shrill. “We have nothing more to talk about, and your begging to be reimbursed for the cost of these rooms will simply waste more of my time! You spoke as you wished to me, your complete superior, and now you may pay for the disgusting liberty in silver as well as unemployment.”
“Ah, but we aren’t unemployed,” the ruffian replied, a grin now showing on what could be seen of his face. “We’ve been well paid to do a certain job, and the cost of these rooms was included in that amount. That cost was rather more than is usual at an inn, but that’s because these rooms are rather special. The walls and ceiling and floor were formed on a base of resin, and beneath the veneer of the door is further resin. There are also no windows letting into this suite, so that means… Can you guess?”
“It means that no one outside these walls can know what goes on inside them,” the second man said when Hallina merely stood there, staring at the first in confusion—and feeling the very beginnings of a faint apprehension. “We didn’t hear the knock announcing your arrival, we watched through the provided slit and saw your approach. Surely you know what that means, now that you’ve been told the most important part?”
“What you’resuggesting is impossible,” Hallina informed the man in what should have been a ringing voice, but somehow became less than that. “You can’t possibly be considering—”
That was when the third man put his hands to her arms from behind, and then Hallina had breath for nothing but screaming.
* * *
Embisson Ruhl sat at his dining room table after having breakfasted there for the first time in what seemed like months. He sipped his tea with full appreciation, and when his son Edmin was shown into the room, he extended a hand.
“Edmin, come join me,” he invited jovially with a grin. “If you’ve already had breakfast, at least have a cup of tea.”
“It would be my pleasure to join you for a cup of tea,” Edmin said, the startled expression on his face widening Embisson’s grin. “I must say, though, that I hadn’t expected to find you in such sound physical condition. Were you visited by a new physician?”
“Nothing but a full night’s sleep visited me,” Embisson said, briefly showing his own surprise over that. “I drifted off last night still in pain, and awoke this morning feeling marvelous. I have no idea where this gift of health came from, but I have no intentions of investigating the matter. I’ve merely been voicing my thanks on a regular basis, in the hopes that the one responsible will eventually hear me.”
“I hear you as well,” Edmin said with a faint smile of his own after he sat and poured himself a cup of tea. “This unexpected but delightful outcome won’t find itself being investigated by my efforts either. But now that you’ve given me good news, I feel I should reciprocate with good news of my own.”
“Don’t tell me that your plan involving a certain lady went off without trouble?” Embisson said, suddenly remembering that that plan had been scheduled for the night before. “On top of the way I feel, that would be news almost too wonderful to stand.”
“Unfortunately, Father, you’ll need to bear up under the load,” Edmin said with a small, neat laugh. “That stupid woman got the note I had sent to her, and my paid informant in her house said she never made any attempt to verify the truth of the thing. She merely thought for a moment or two, and then, after dinner, dressed and went out.”
“I’m not in the least surprised,” Embisson said with full relish as he leaned back in his chair. “The woman was always under the impression that no one knew anything of what she did, as if finding out was impossible. You said your men had no trouble discovering the errand her agent was on, which was also to be expected. And how did she respond to the treatment given her?”
“With full-blown hysterics, I was told,” Edmin said, now reaching for one of the sweet rolls still on the table. “It seems that the lady, despite her advanced age and protestations of parenthood, was still a virgin. That condition no longer obtains in any manner at all, of course, not after my men all took their pleasure. Their report said she screamed throughout the … ordeal, and then she managed to scream as well during the beatings. When the three left they took her clothing along with them, all but that hooded cloak. It took more than two hours before she was able to drag herself out of the inn and back to her carriage, with the cloak wrapped tightly about her.”
“May she have twice the pain she caused me, and for twice as long,” Embisson said, no longer amused. “I detest backstabbers, which she would have been even if she’d been born a man. I must remember to visit her in a few days, when she’ll be capable of understanding and appreciating the significance of my visit. And by the way, did she give your men any hints about what she meant to hire them to do?”
“Better than that,” Edmin said with a rueful shake of his head. “She actually came straight out and told them what she wanted them for, and that before any agreements or guarantees were in place. It’s a wonder that she’s managed to survive this long… But what she wanted: she’s searching for men to break into the palace and attack the Five physically. She apparently believes that anyone she hires will have no trouble doing that.”
“Once again I’m not terribly surprised,” Embisson said with his own headshake and an exasperated sigh. “The woman has no mind, only a rigid determination to have her own way in anything and everything. I knew her father briefly before the man died, and the fool doted on her every word and action. It’s his fault that she’s like this now, but at least now she won’t be able to continue with her plans and thereby ruin ours. The last thing we want is for the Five to be warned and become overly alert.”
“They won’t be,” Edmin assured him as soon as he swallowed a bite of the sweet roll. “I’ve already made arrangements for someone to have a little talk with her agent, and after that the man will send her reports about efforts he never makes. He won’t be any trouble, not after it’s pointed out to him that he can prove right now that he never sent that note to her. If he tries to make trouble for us, evidence proving the exact opposite will come into the woman’s hands.”
“And that will be the end of him,” Embisson agreed with heavy satisfaction. “Yes, that should do to hold him in place. And how are our plans coming?”
Embisson had almost been afraid to ask that question, so deep were his hopes for the project. Those freaks on the Throne had taken every one of his rightful titles, and the last time he’d seen them they were even threatening to take his wealth and estates. They needed to be repaid for that, the one who spoke for them most of all.
“Everything is proceeding nicely, just the way it’s supposed to,” Edmin replied, his smile now small but very sleek. “That new procedure of allowing no one into the palace unless they’resent for or have permission to enter was anticipated, and won’t prove to be any problem at all. In fact I already have half my people in the palace, and the Five not one whit the wiser.”
“Good,” Embisson said, greatly relieved. “And now I can help you with the rest of it. We’ll go for a stroll in the garden, where we can discuss the matter freely.”
Edmin nodded his agreement and reached to his teacup as Embisson reached to his own, both of them eager to get on with finalizing their plans. When those plans came to fruition, he would also be able to be there to see the results. He hadn’t counted on being able to do that without pain, but now… Yes, they would have to see if their plans couldn’t be hurried a little…
CHAPTER SEVEN
“Rion, I’m so glad you’reback,” Jovvi heard as they entered the stables, turning in time to see Naran hurrying into Rion’s arms. “The next time you go anywhere, I’m going with you. Sitting here waiting and worrying about you is making me a nervous wreck.”
Rion laughed gently and began to murmur soothingly to her, but Jovvi’s attention had been yanked forcibly to the scene. It was true—very true—that Naran was worried, but somethin
g about the girl’s thoughts was … different from everyone else’s. Most people’s worries were vague and formless even when they worried about something in particular, but the same wasn’t true of Naran’s reactions. Her worries were … formed, Jovvi realized, possibly the best word of description she could find.
“Rion, Naran, excuse me for interrupting,” Jovvi said as soon as she made up her mind to find out what was going on. “I’ve been meaning to talk to Naran for longer than five minutes for quite some time, and now that we seem to have the time I’d like to take advantage of it. Rion, you said you wanted to speak to Vallant and Lorand. Why don’t you do that while Naran and I find a place to sit down in peace—while it lasts.”
“Yes, my self-appointed errand is rather important, and I barely began to speak to Lorand when the other Blending interrupted,” Rion agreed with a nod and a smile. “You ladies enjoy your talk while I finish my chore.”
He gave Naran a quick kiss and then walked off, leaving Jovvi and Naran to look at one another. Naran showed a smile of complete friendliness and openness, but Jovvi knew that the girl’s mind wasn’t feeling what her features showed.
“Please don’t be so frightened,” Jovvi said softly as she put an arm around Naran’s shoulders to urge her toward the back of the stables. “Whatever it is that’s bothering you won’t change the relationship you have with us, that I can promise you. We all know how you feel about Rion—and how he feels about you, as well—so nothing will be allowed to disrupt that relationship. But we really do have to talk, and we must be honest with one another.”
“Honest?” Naran echoed, her emotions still ragged despite what Jovvi had said. “But I’ve always tried to be honest…”
“Naran, please,” Jovvi said with a sigh when the girl’s words trailed off. “Telling lies isn’t the only way people keep from being fully honest. Not telling the whole truth is also a form of lying, which I’m sure you know. And we both know that you have a specific worry about Rion, rather than a simple, general unease. Will you tell me what that worry is?”
Naran’s eyes had closed briefly, a reflection of the stab of inner pain she’d experienced, but behind the pain was a bit of pathetic eagerness. She wanted to talk about what threatened Rion, and only a vast amount of reluctance, fear, and apprehension had kept her from doing so already.
“I—can’t give you all that many details, ” she whispered, glancing around to be certain that no one overheard them. “I just know that people will come out of the shadows to do Rion harm. It can happen at any time, come from any direction. It—isn’t simply a possibility, it’s just short of an absolute certainty. Nothing is ever absolutely certain, not with everything that might happen to interfere, but some things come closer than others…”
Once again her words trailed off, but through fear rather than because she had nothing further to say. Jovvi had the impression that Naran was afraid she’d already said too much, and in a manner of speaking she was right.
“Then Rion needs to be warned, and right away,” Jovvi said, reaching a hand out to grip the twisting fingers Naran held at her waist. “I meant to ask you more than that one question, but I’ve changed my mind. No one has the right to pry into someone else’s privacy, not even when they’reas close as we are. Or maybe especially when they’reas close as we are. Just remember that if you decide you want someone to talk to, I’ll always be willing.”
“Do you mean that?” Naran asked, her vast startlement clear. “I’ve said things … I know you have some idea … I was certain you would … just continue on with it…”
“A good friend told me that nothing is absolutely certain,” Jovvi said with a warm, true smile. “What would be the good of my getting answers to my questions, if the process of getting them shattered you? When you decide that the time has come to give me those answers of your own volition, there won’t be any shattering involved. Now we need to get back to Rion, so shall we?”
Naran’s nod and trembling smile joined the way she clutched Jovvi’s hand for a moment, showing her gratitude in the only way she was currently able to. Speechless with relief would have been a good description of Naran, and if what Jovvi suspected was true it was no wonder. The girl must have been living with her secret for a long time…
A lot of their people were moving around the stables, so it took a moment before they located Rion. He’d apparently finished speaking to Lorand and was now standing with Vallant, and even as they began to move toward him Vallant nodded, clapped Rion on the shoulder, and then turned to give his attention to something else. Rion, looking and feeling satisfied, also turned away, but not, unfortunately, in their direction. He began to stroll toward the front of the stables, an area that was dim and mostly empty of people.
Jovvi was about to call out to Rion, but at that precise moment Naran gasped and wrapped a hand around Jovvi’s arm with a grip that was actually painful. That … something different in Naran’s mind had flared for an instant, and Jovvi had no trouble understanding what it meant. Rion was in danger now, and giving him help in another minute or two would probably be too late.
So Jovvi did something she’d never done before. The others had no idea of her intentions, but she still reached out to initiate the Blending. She would have sworn it was necessary for everyone to be in agreement—and aware of what was happening—before it would be possible to Blend, but she discovered she was wrong. The Blending formed instantly, and then—
—and then it was the entity which had taken over, an entity which was fully aware of the danger to one of its flesh forms. Its senses located three human forms standing in the shadows of the first stall, which was used as a tack room rather than a place to put a horse. One of the three held something in its closed fist, and even as the entity watched, that one opened its hand and flung the contents at the flesh form named Rion.
But the flesh form was under the control of the entity at the moment, its talent merged into the talents of the others. The fine dust thrown at the Rion form flew out and moved quickly to coat him—but stopped a good two feet away from his form. It was as though the powder had been thrown against an invisible wall, which was just what had happened.
With the wall of solidified air surrounding and protecting the Rion form, the entity was able to get on with seeing to the intruding enemies. All three, wearing wet cloths tied about their faces, began to move out toward the Rion form, their actions more deliberate than hurried. At the same time a fourth enemy form, also with a wet cloth about its face, came from the stall opposite, and would have appeared behind the Rion form’s back if the Rion form had turned to face the three. The four had surrounded the object of their attention, and clearly expected to do as they willed with him.
The entity, however, disagreed with that intention.
Taking control of the four minds was not in the least difficult, nor was the series of small but bright fire flashes. Ashing something without burning anything around that something was simple, and then it was Jovvi back again and walking toward the five men. The others of the Blending also made their way over, and in a moment they stood staring at the four unmoving men who remained masked.
“That was hilsom powder we burned up,” Lorand commented before stepping forward to pull the masks off the three intruders. “I sincerely hope that there’s not a speck of it left.”
“There isn’t,” Tamrissa assured him, moving to the fourth man to remove his mask as well. “Burning a powder is easier than burning water without producing steam… Well, these four were being properly careful. The wet cloths would have kept them from being affected by the powder right along with Rion.”
“That means they didn’t want to kill him,” Jovvi pointed out, making sure to keep a firm hold on the four. “Let’s hear what they did intend to do with him. Whichever of you is the leader of this group, answer the question.”
“Our job was to bring the man back to Gan Garee,” the fourth intruder, the one who had stood alone, responded immediately. “We rep
resent someone who works for his family, and he would certainly not have been harmed. At least not by us.”
“What’s that comment supposed to mean?” Vallant asked, his voice having become a growl. “Did that mother of his decide to have him kidnapped so she could turn him over to that so-called Five?”
“Our employer considered that a possible option,” the man agreed with a judicious nod. “He did quite a lot of research before accepting the commission, and therefore came to a different primary conclusion. The noblewoman involved was most likely to have deliberately damaged the man’s mind, in an effort to regain what she lost: an obedient child in a man’s body. Since the man would then have been more of a moron than a child, chances were excellent that she would have finally decided to give the man to the Five, and then do what she did before.”
“What, have another child?” Vallant said, outrage now clear in his voice and mind. “Isn’t she gettin’ on a bit to keep havin’ children?”
“What she did before was take the infant of a dead servant to raise as her own,” the man corrected with brows high. “She herself has never borne a child. We were under the impression that you had found that out.”
A shocked silence descended on the group, and Jovvi was immediately worried about Rion’s state of mind. The shock was greatest for him, of course, but then she saw his delighted grin and felt that his mind and emotions were a perfect match.
“What marvelous news!” he exclaimed, turning to offer an arm to Naran, who hovered just behind the others. “Did you hear that, my love? I’m not one of those useless bloodsuckers, not even a half blood worth. My true mother was a servant, and she was unable to protect me because she had died.”
“Yes, my love, I did hear,” Naran said after hurrying to him, the relief in her mind as strong as that in Jovvi. “I’m delighted for you, almost as delighted as I am that you’reunharmed.”