As suddenly as it had fallen over them, the blanket of calm lifted.
Emotion surged through the nursery, too chaotic at first to resolve into an ambient, relief slowly emerging as the prevailing impulse. Laughter sounded throughout the rooms, a good-natured amusement. The noise helped give Shironne an idea of the shape of the room they were in, and she smiled, relieved as well.
“I don’t know how you did it,” Tabita said, “but it worked. It always surprises me that he can hold us all captive like that.”
In the distance, she heard a baby crying. “Maria didn’t seem to be bothered by him.”
“She’s stronger than I thought,” Tabita answered.
Considering everything she now knew about Maria Lucas, Shironne didn’t question Tabita’s judgment. “I need to talk to you about her,” she said. “Somewhere alone.”
“This isn’t the place, then,” Tabita said with a soft laugh.
No, there had to be dozens of people just in this part of the refuge. “Later, but don’t forget.”
“I won’t,” Tabita whispered and squeezed her hand.
Shironne sat and listened to the chatter of the seated yeargroups around her, fascinated by their odd reactions to this ancient ritual. Tabita passed her a tablet and pencil at one point, and she wrote her name on it where Tabita held her hand, then passed the items on as instructed. The others watched and she listened as the doors of the refuge closed.
It was a heavy metallic sound, eerily final. Her heart beat a little harder.
If there was an emergency anyone caught outside that door would be on their own. A fire, perhaps. A flood, although Shironne couldn’t figure out how a Fortress could flood. But Mikael’s mind told her it had happened before, with the Salonen Family, who were all gone and scattered because of it.
Shironne shook herself free of his thoughts. She could sense him clearly now, up on One Down in the chapel, waiting through the same process. He’d be in trouble with the elders again. She thought reassurance at him as best she could, certain that he heard her, even if he didn’t acknowledge it.
Chapter 28
* * *
“SO WHAT PROVOKED your reaction during the drill, dear?” Deborah asked.
Mikael wished he hadn’t promised to join Deborah for dinner. He needed to be working out his final timing with Pamini, not explaining himself, but Deborah was going to have to defend his actions in front of the other elders again, mostly likely first thing in the morning. He needed to listen to her, so he locked away his frustration and put it in the back of his mind. “There was a panic setting in on Two Down, ma’am,” he answered. “The children were afraid, and I didn’t want anyone to get hurt.”
She gazed at him over her bowl, looking concerned. “Try to rephrase that, Mikael, before you speak to the elders. You just admitted to intentionally influencing children.”
He rubbed the tips of his fingers across his forehead. That was exactly what he had done, even if his intent had been benign. “I know, ma’am. I didn’t think it through.”
“So why did you do it?”
He hated the idea of reframing the answer to present to the elders, but that was the only thing that was going to save him at this point. “I sensed a panic starting, and I wanted to stop it before anyone got hurt.”
“If you mention Two Down, dear, the elders will ask how you knew. You’re generally not believed to be a strong enough sensitive to sense from one level to the next.”
Generally not believed? Mikael calmed himself again, not wanting to upset anyone on this floor. “It’s worrisome that there are general beliefs about me.”
“There are.” She shifted in her chair and tugged her braid out from behind her. “Some of them fairly wrong-headed, but some need to be taken into account. I noticed in the chapel that people had simply stopped reacting, Mikael. Everyone.” Her head tilted. “I wonder if you’re actually stronger now.”
He’d always been able to affect sensitives; non-sensitives were another matter. She was implying that he’d affected them as well, and Seth would not like that. “Why would I be stronger, ma’am?”
“Because you’re not using it all the time,” she answered.
“Should I not be weaker, then?” he countered.
“We have no idea. I’m sure they’ll want to meet with you in the morning, dear. Please think hard about how you’re going to answer them.”
Mikael finished his bowl and then watched her eat. For the last four years, the elders of the Lucas Family had permitted his presence. They’d tolerated his broadcasting and endured his dreams. And for a while he’d been able to keep things hidden away, his broadcasting held in check by sheer will and his dreams covered by escaping down into the city when one was coming on. But the last several weeks had tried the elders’ resolve. Starting with the dreams a month before when a killer had come to Noikinos, then his unpredicted dream last week, and now this. He’d intentionally used his talent to influence children.
Colonel Cerradine had more than once told him he would have a place in the army if the Family kicked him out. There was always that plan. He clutched that failsafe like a worn-out blanket, hoping he could stay a week or two longer.
Because if the Family kicked him out of the palace or sent him back to Lee, Shironne wouldn’t go with him. She would be staying in Lucas Fortress, where the Lucas Family could keep a member of the House of Valaren safe. And he would be alone again.
He forced that to the back of his mind, trying to lock it away where Shironne wouldn’t sense it—because he knew she was sensing more of his thoughts than she let on. Whatever the elders did with him, it wouldn’t be her fault. So he buried it away and concentrated on the fact that he would have to help horses this evening, never one of his favorite things to do.
* * *
“For privacy, this is the best I can do,” Tabita said softly, settling next to Shironne on her bunk after dinner. “What did you want to tell me about Maria?”
“Has she come back?”
“No. She knows her father will be here soon, though, and I think she’ll show up before then.”
Master Elias would be sitting with the yeargroup tonight to help them prepare for an upcoming history exam. His main reason was to keep the boys and the girls separate, as that would supposedly help them study. Tonight it wouldn’t make much difference, not once he noted his daughter was missing.
“I hope you’re right,” Shironne whispered. “You and Gabriel want Eli to tell his father about Maria. Why not tell him yourselves?”
Evidently that was a complex question that brought up regrets in Tabita’s mind. The bed squeaked as Tabita shifted on it. “Master Elias has already disciplined her several times for missed duties and classes,” she said instead of answering. “He knows. I just don’t think he knows how often it’s happening.”
“When I touched her arm, I got the sense of what she intended to do. That’s how I knew.”
“But . . . you had gloves on,” Tabita noted in a soft voice. “Could you get. . . ?”
“She slapped me,” Shironne added. “That was her mistake. She touched her hand to my face, and that gave me a bond for . . .”
Tabita reflected indignation. “She slapped you? Why didn’t you say anything?”
“She just surprised me, is all. I’ve been hit a lot harder than that before.”
There was a pause as Tabita’s mind went still. She shifted on the bed again, as if uncomfortable. “I’m sorry that you can say that.”
“It’s not important. Tabita.” Shironne settled for the bald truth. “She’s pregnant.”
“What?” Tabita hissed.
“That’s what I’m studying in the infirmary. Deborah has me meet every pregnant woman who comes in, and there’s something about the way their skin feels. Maria feels like that. I think that’s why she’s never let me touch her. I’m pretty certain she knew I would figure it out.”
Tabita’s mind focused on her new worry, closing Shironne away fo
r a time as she thought. “I have to tell Eli tonight.”
“Do you need me to tell him?”
“I’ll run down a couple of the other girls first. I suspect there’s one or two who know what’s going on and haven’t told, out of loyalty to her. I’ll see if I can get one of them to corroborate the information.”
“Maria’s going to kill me,” Shironne admitted. “She’ll know I’m the one who told you.”
“She can’t kill you after Eli’s killed her first.”
Eli would take it personally. Tabita reflected irritation momentarily, and then worried again. “This is one of those times when I hate to be right.”
Tabita rose and walked off, leaving Shironne on her bunk. She touched her cheek again, her palm resting where Maria had touched it. She could feel a faint sense of the other girl’s hand still there on her skin, oils left behind by a sweaty palm. If she concentrated, she could still feel a hint of contact with the other girl, tenuous at best, and far away.
The evening progressed as most other study evenings did, the majority of the yeargroup in the common room looking over their work. Master Elias fumed in anger when he noticed Maria was absent but forced his response down into a heavy blanket of disapproval. Since it was clear that none of the others intended to tell him that Maria was actually absent from the Fortress itself—not just from their hall—Shironne decided to hold her tongue as well. Master Elias was clearly not in the mood for her opinions.
So Shironne tried to fit in, instead, conforming. She did find the swirl of focused minds interesting. Certainly, Melanna and Perrin had never studied like that. It posed a problem for her, though, since she had nothing to study. She couldn’t read the history or language texts, nor could she work math problems like Norah sat doing. Two of the other girls sat nearby quizzing each other on their treaty information. Shironne listened, reflecting sadly that she kept missing the answers. It would be far easier if Mikael knew the treaties well, but he didn’t. Another failing they had in common—not as interested in history as Master Elias would like.
“What does Elder Deborah have you studying, Shironne?” Master Elias asked her. He must have noticed her inaction and decided to spur her to greater studiousness.
“Um, pregnancies, sir.”
“Which you certainly can’t study here on this floor,” he said quietly.
Shironne was very glad at that moment that the Master wasn’t a sensitive, because he would have felt her uneasiness at his words. She hoped she managed to keep her expression neutral . . . and lied. “When Tabita gets back, she’s to help drill me on history. I’m just waiting for her, sir.”
“I see,” he said, a hint of approval in his tone.
Finally, I’ve pleased Master Elias.
Tabita touched her shoulder just then, having returned almost silently. “Sir,” she said in her gravest voice. “I need to speak with Eli. Would you permit that for a few minutes? And could I take Shironne with me?”
“Keep it under five minutes, Tabita.”
Under the master’s concerned watch, Shironne rose and followed Tabita to the other side of the common room. Tabita slowed and halted, dragging Shironne with her. “Eli,” she hissed.
“Just a minute,” he answered in a distracted voice.
Shironne could hear a pen scratching, caught the smells of ink and tea. Tabita tapped the table, her hand on Shironne’s sleeve jerking with her irritation. “Now, Eli.”
His attention turned toward her, a quick sharp focus. “What is it?” he asked.
“We need to talk to you alone,” Tabita returned.
“I don’t have any secrets from Gabriel.”
Shironne felt Gabriel’s satisfaction at winning that point.
“Tell him,” Tabita asked her, tugging on her arm.
Eli’s anger flared around him at her mention of the boy Maria had been seeing. Tabita confirmed it, adding that one of the other girls admitted she knew.
“Did you figure out how long this has been going on?” Eli asked.
“At least six weeks, she claimed, but they’ve only met a dozen times or so.” Tabita loosened her grip on Shironne’s arm. “It gets worse, Eli.”
“How much worse can it get?” Gabriel asked.
“How much worse do you think it can get?” Shironne asked in return.
Eli’s mind went still, surely reaching the conclusion she wanted. “Are you certain?”
“No, not certain,” she said, “but I think so.”
“What?” Gabriel asked.
“Go back to your side,” Eli told them. “I’ll talk with Father, let him know.” His emotions stayed tightly under control.
“Let’s go,” Tabita told her, dragging at Shironne’s arm again. “We’ll talk later, Eli.”
They made their way back to the girl’s half of the common room. Tabita’s mind swirled with worry, but she kept it low, hiding it from the others.
Maria still hadn’t returned.
Chapter 29
* * *
“I DON’T LIKE THIS,” Mikael said.
Pamini cast a sidewise glance in his direction. She’d just returned from directing a carriage’s driver to a spot where his horses could wait on the long drive. “You think I do?”
They waited in the pungent alleyway behind the stables of Faralis’ fine house. On the northern side of the town, it was large enough to have a huge garden attached, but there was little space, as Pamini had said, to exercise horses. No pathways, and the cobbled courtyard at the bottom of the garden—currently clogged with visitors’ carriages—was barely large enough to walk horses, much less let them run. Pamini hadn’t been happy with their treatment, one of the reasons she was willing to help. The main reason, though, was that Cerradine had agreed to this subterfuge with Gasanen.
Mikael wasn’t actually part of the plan. He was merely supposed to meet with Gasanen the next day to get the promised name of Jusid’s killer. But if this was going to happen at his bidding, he wanted to be here.
The stone house on the hill, a building of one story that rambled into great size, was brightly lit, every lantern in the garden glowing. From where he stood, half-hidden down by a stable wall, Mikael could see visitors walking up the last distance to the house, heavy coats and jackets obscuring Larossan garb. It was a festive gathering, not a holy day for the true god, so the colors were bright. Some of the guests carried pennants, freshly blessed no doubt, as gifts for their host. Mikael hadn’t laid eyes on the man yet.
For his part, Mikael wore clothing Anna had provided, a plain tan tunic and brown trousers, plus a heavy brown jacket, all of which smelled of someone else’s accumulated sweat. His pale hair would still give him away, so he’d wrapped a dark scarf around his head. A group of men waited behind them, twelve in all, most Larossans who looked as if they’d worked with horses their entire lives. The horses would be taken to a paddock on an absent neighbor’s land, making it look as if they’d escaped the fire by fleeing over the property line.
“Let’s get this done,” Pamini whispered.
Since she was familiar with the stables, Mikael let her make the calls. She led the men into the stables, and they opened the side doors as quietly as possible. Then the first of the men entered one of the stalls, clipped a lead onto the horse’s halter, and led the horse away at a jog, out into the dark alley and beyond Mikael’s vision. Another man climbed bareback onto his horse and led a second horse out with them. They followed the first out through the alleyway and were gone, and then another pair, until one white-socked horse was left.
A large Larossan man stepped forward to claim that one—the bodyguard Mikael had seen in the tavern. He took that horse’s lead and strode away with him, into the alleyway.
Pamini made the gesture of striking a match, then pointed with her chin after that man. Mikael waved to her, drew his scarf back up to hide his hair, and chased after the man as he turned and led the horse off in the opposite direction from the others.
Keeping to the sh
adows, Mikael pursued the man along the darkened street. Behind them, a fire erupted, a light in the darkness as his man led the horse onward.
It seemed a long time, but eventually, they reached a walled estate. Hiding behind the edge of one of the stone wall posts, Mikael watched as the bodyguard waited for a man on duty to open the gate for him.
They made their way through the gate and it was locked behind them. Mikael puffed out a frustrated breath.
Pamini had suggested following this one horse, in her opinion the most valuable of the creatures stabled at Faralis’ home. She’d been right, then. This one was the special one, the one that had required the attention of Gasanen’s own bodyguard.
So this isn’t just about getting a man into Faralis’ private study. Mikael wedged himself between a tree and a wall where he could see the gate into the darkness. Gasanen had suggested a distraction, but at some point in their discussion, that had changed into a fire in the sables. Mikael wasn’t quite sure when but was sure it had been Gasanen’s suggestion. And he’d gone along, making himself and Pamini complicit in what might have been no more than horse theft.
Mikael stayed at the post until his feet began to hurt. Pacing would have helped, but he would reveal himself, so he just lifted one cold foot at a time and shook it out. The cold was beginning to bother his nose and fingers, too.
He was rewarded for his patience when a carriage approached the same entryway to the estate in question.
The vehicle paused as the gate opened, so Mikael ran to the side and rapped on the door.
The driver half-turned on the box and pointed a pistol at him. “Get back.”
“I just want to talk to him,” Mikael called up, hands wide. “It’s business.”
A guard from inside the gateway hustled over—another big man like the bodyguard. He grabbed Mikael’s borrowed coat by the neck and shoved him against a fence post.
“Let him go,” Gasanen said from the now-open carriage door. “You want to talk to me, Mr. Lee, come on up.”
In Dreaming Bound Page 25
