Midnight Quest

by Honor Raconteur

  Jewel smiled at the idea of being horizontal soon.

  Without a word being exchanged, they left the room again. Rialt maneuvered around to her other side this time, slipping her hand into the crook of his elbow. With Bortonor on her right, they barely fit through the hallways, but she didn’t mind being so close to Rialt.

  “We often encounter visitors that are reluctant to speak for fear of giving offense,” Alexandra offered, a lilt turning the statement into a question. “Such a restraint is not necessary. We are very accustomed to visitors here.”

  “All the same, lass, we rather no take the chance,” Rialt drawled. “It be no fear on my part, see, but dead certainty.”

  To Jewel’s surprise, Alexandra let out a soft, girlish giggle. “No, truly, we wish for you to be comfortable here. The Ramath especially are always welcome.”

  Jewel’s head cocked in surprise. “Why Ramathans especially?”

  “They are the ones that stand up to the Daath,” Alexandra explained simply. “If they did not do so, we would have to. We owe them a great debt for that.”

  Was this a personal opinion of Alexandra’s or did the whole of Jordia really feel that way? Jewel hoped for the latter. It would be nice if at least one clan appreciated Ramath’s sacrifices.

  “Well, that be good news for the ears to hear.” Rialt’s response was polite, but the tone made it clear he still didn’t intend to talk unless he really needed to.

  “You will see.” Alexandra clearly had no doubt of that. “But for tonight, rest. You have had a hard journey.”

  That obvious, eh? She of course didn’t know what they looked like, but judging from the feel of mud and grime on her skin, tangles in her hair, and the horsey smell, they probably looked like they’d been on the road for nearly a week solid. Jewel just sighed. So much for first impressions.

  Chapter Twenty-seven

  The inn that Alexandra guided them to could not have been more perfect. They were in the off season for tourists, giving them more of a choice of rooms. Rialt informed Sarvell firmly that they’d be on the ground floor and Sarvell politely asked for just that. The inn keeper probably assumed that Jewel needed a level floor (which certainly wasn’t the case) as he asked no questions but assured them that he had connecting rooms on the main floor available. Better yet, these rooms came with a bath en-suite.

  Jewel’s first concern, however, was not taking a bath, but how to pay for the rooms. The situation that Alexandra described sounded…challenging. It would probably take several days to negotiate getting the crystal back, at the very least, and then it would take even more time to dismantle the slide around the crystal so they could drag it free. If they were able to leave Jordia within two weeks, Jewel would be very surprised.

  Rialt, as usual, had a cot in her room. (Although the inn keeper swore that he could do better than that, and that another bed would be moved inside immediately.) Once they were inside the room, she took better stock of her new surroundings. A nice wide bed (wide enough to give a dog enough space to sleep without using her as a pillow), a small chest to put clothes into, another small table and chair in one corner, and a modest fireplace against the interior wall. Next to the fireplace another door led into a bathing area that had a tub even Rialt could fit into tolerably well, with a sink and everything. Compared to the inns she stayed in before, this seemed more like a resort than a simple inn.

  “Rialt…how expensive is this place?”

  “Expensive,” Rialt answered bluntly. “But they said, if you be here to move the crystal back and save them from a Daath invasion, they be no going to charge you for a few weeks’ stay.”

  Jewel turned toward him, her hand still on the bathroom door. “Did Alexandra set this up in advance?”

  “Eh, seems so. Sarvell did no bartering afore we were shown up. It was just the particulars of who sleeps where they discussed.”

  She’d been so focused on coordinating with Alexandra on when and where to meet the next day she’d missed that part of the conversation. Hmmm. So Alexandra had connections? Or at least the charm and skill to coordinate things of this nature. I think I see why Elahandra chose her. “Well, I want a bath before dinner. You?”

  “Go ahead, lass. I will go in after you.”

  He didn’t have to tell her twice. She grabbed clean clothes from her bags (one of the last sets of clean clothes, which was a problem she’d worry about later) and went straight into the bathing room.

  It took her a little time to work out how to fill the tub. Someone clever had rigged a faucet over the edge along the wall, and by turning two different knobs she could adjust how much hot and cold water she wanted. Delighted by this, she filled it with water as hot as she could stand.

  “Lass?”

  Jewel started a bit. She’d never gotten used to people talking through a bathroom door. “Yes?”

  “They be offering to clean any clothes we need washed. Anything you want to send?”

  Oh good! Something she didn’t need to worry about. “All of it,” she responded firmly.

  “All it be, then.” His voice dropped slightly to a more normal tone, although of course she could hear most of it. The door wasn’t that thick. He sent her clothes and most of his to be cleaned before the main room’s door shut. “Lass? They say there be a place outside if we care to wash Bortonor.”

  He certainly needed it after traveling in rain and mud the past few days. “Yes, that needs to be done. Er…are you volunteering?”

  “Sarvell said he would go.”

  Brave man. Bortonor had proven to be quite slippery and adept at dodging the last time they’d given him a bath. “Tell him good luck!”

  “Be what she said,” Rialt sounded amused. “Bort, off with you. Do no give me that look, now, I will watch her.”

  The dog huffed out a discontented breath, but she heard him pad out into the hallway.

  This conversation between the planks of a door continued, off and on, as Rialt asked her questions or offered an opinion. It was beyond strange and yet she rather enjoyed it. The situation seemed very similar to what a husband and wife would do. Well, not quite. The door would likely be open if they were married.

  She could feel herself blushing a little at where her mind headed and firmly shook the thought away. Rialt was still waiting to get in here and bathe himself, after all, so it would behoove her to make this short. She gave herself another quick scrub and final rinse before stepping out. The water, she felt sure, was grimy after her being in it, so she released the plug at the bottom to let it drain. “Rialt, how hot do you like your water?”

  “Hot as it gets, lass.”

  They had that in common, then. Smiling, she finished drying off and slipped into clean clothes before reaching over and setting the tub to fill again. The water, she was pleased to note, didn’t drop in temperature. Whatever system they had for water heating certainly did its job. She opened the door, toweling her hair dry as she stepped into the main bedroom. “All yours.”

  “Chizeld is right outside,” he told her as they passed.

  Good to know. “Alright.”

  She sat down in the chair and focused on drying her hair as much as she could before picking up a comb and trying to untangle it. This proved to be more difficult than normal and she had to go slowly to avoid yanking hair out of her head.

  From the other side of the door, there came a panicked yelp and then thud. In instinct, Jewel rushed for the door.

  “Rialt?! Are you alright?” Without waiting for an answer, she grasped the doorknob and started to push it open.

  “Jewel!” Rialt yelped, voice rising in octave. “Do no dare come in here! You—whoa!”

  A loud splash, as if something heavy had just hit the water, and then water sloshed out in every direction, spraying her even though she had frozen in the doorway. Oh dear, had he fallen in?

  “Rialt—” she started, only to cut herself short when the door behind her burst open, Chizeld racing inside.

  “
Heard a loud thump, everything alright?” he asked in a rush.

  “I be no alright!” Rialt grumbled, sounding like a wounded bear. “She be peeking!”

  Chizeld snorted on a laugh, clearly trying to choke it back and failing miserably.

  Jewel just sighed in exasperation. “Rialt, for the love of heaven, it’s not like I can see you!”

  “I do no care!” His brogue was thickening with every word. “The principal of the thing, it be!”

  “What is going on in here?” Sarvell demanded as he came inside.

  “Sarvell, make them go away,” Rialt pleaded, water making sloshing noises and the bathtub squeaking as he apparently tried to climb back out. “And shut that door!”

  A moment passed as Sarvell obviously took a moment to survey the scene. “Why are you half-dressed and in the tub?”

  “Sit on her,” Rialt commanded from the safety of the bath tub. “She be no trustworthy.”

  “Eh?” Sarvell clearly didn’t know what to make of this, but he sounded interested, as if he was just waiting for a good story.

  So Jewel gave him one. “He’s accusing me of peeking on him.”

  It took a second to click, and then Sarvell started laughing out loud. “A l-little d-difficult for you to manage, isn’t it?” he managed to choke out.

  Her face muscles seemed to ache from the wide smile on her face. “He said it was the principle of the thing.”

  “Both of you, out!” Rialt ordered with a growl. “Can no a man bathe in peace?!”

  She just shook her head. Well, he didn’t sound mortally injured. He’d probably just slipped on the wet tiles. Still…there was this evil impulse lurking in her to tease a little.

  “But you’re hurt, aren’t you?” she asked with as much concern as she could muster, taking another step inside.

  “JEWEL!” he spluttered, truly panicked now.

  She had to slap a hand over her mouth to keep a maniacal laugh from escaping.

  “You conniving woman,” he grumbled even as he heaved himself to his feet. “I hear that chortling, now, do no think otherwise.”

  She wanted to protest this innocently, but the laughter proved to be too much and it escaped despite her best efforts.

  “Fine conduct for a priestess to have,” Rialt muttered. The water sloshed about, followed by the splat sound of soaking wet material hitting the tiles. “Intruding on a man’s bath.”

  She’d no doubt pay for this later, but for the time being, she just enjoyed the moment. “Here, let me have your wet clothes for the laundry…”

  “You take one more step inside here and I will toss you out,” he growled. “And the pair of you, stop laughing like jack-o-napes and get her out of here! I want to bathe! ALONE!”

  Chizeld dissolved into a laughing fit right on the spot. She heard the thunk he made as he propped himself against the wall and was very tempted to join him.

  Crossly, Rialt reiterated, “Just take them, will you?”

  Sarvell, proving to be a man with amazing control no matter what the circumstances, ordered calmly, “Hmmm. Alright you two, come along. We can discuss your behavior over dinner.”

  Jewel translated this without a problem to you’d better tell me the full story over dinner! “Of course.”

  ~*~*~*~

  They sat down in a private dining room just off the main taproom. Unlike some dining rooms that only had just enough space for a table surrounded by chairs, this one also included a buffet along one wall filled with various foods and a deck that led out to a small garden. Jewel could hear splashes now again (it sounded like fish moving about) so she assumed that either a pond or a small stream took up part of the garden space as well.

  The food served was excellent, but the conversation…well, it lagged. Bortonor had wolfed down his plate of scraps in moments and then sat next to her, sulking. He smelled much better after his bath but he didn’t like being damp and he let everyone at the table know it.

  Rialt’s attitude wasn’t much better than the dog’s. Of course, this came as no real surprise, considering. Every time he’d try to say something, either Chizeld or Sarvell would choke on barely restrained laughter, and then the whole table would dissolve into a fit of giggling.

  After the third round of this, Rialt slammed a hand down on the table. “It be no that funny!”

  “Hilarious,” Chizeld disagreed, nearly wheezing for breath. “Seeing a veteran commander react like a shy maiden is hilarious.”

  “I second that,” Sarvell agreed, voice shaking with the effort of not laughing.

  Rialt let out a growl and a string of words that the table at large was better off not knowing. “Jewel, you see what you started?”

  “My intentions were pure,” she denied innocently.

  “Eh,” Rialt agreed darkly, “pure evil.”

  Unable to refute that, she just snickered.

  Chizeld cleared his throat in a deliberate manner. “Alright. Perhaps a change of subject is in order?”

  She listened with interest. It had not escaped her notice that ever since Rialt had become her armsman in truth, he and Chizeld had developed a better relationship. In fact, they were acting more and more like brothers in arms with each passing day. Chizeld charitably bailing Rialt out of an awkward situation (after having gotten a good laugh in at his expense) was a prime example. So she smiled and played along. “Actually, there is something I wanted to talk about,” Jewel admitted. “Chizeld, do you know what the Ramath Order’s building is supposed to look like?”

  “Of course. Each Order’s building is more or less the same.”

  “Oh good. Can you either draw it out or find blueprints for me? I want to send it to someone in Denzbane so they can start construction. If they start now, it might be near completion by the time we get home.”

  “It be a fair thought,” Rialt granted her. “Send it to my uncle, and he will make sure it gets done.”

  “Broeske Axheimer?”

  “The very man.”

  “Hmmm.” She’d known they were related somehow, but hadn’t realized it was that close. “Alright. Can you do it, Chizeld?”

  “Of course. Will see to it tomorrow. All three not necessary to go negotiate for crystal, right?”

  “Right,” she agreed. “Especially since Alexandra’s armsmen will be with us as well. Speaking of which, what did you think of her?”

  “Quiet,” Sarvell offered.

  “Thoughtful,” Chizeld chimed in.

  “A force to be reckoned with, that one.” Rialt added dryly, “After all, it be the quiet ones to watch out for.”

  Jewel just knew he was talking about her. “I’m never going to live this down, am I?”

  “Oh, you will. After I get proper revenge.”

  That’s…what she was afraid of.

  Chapter Twenty-eight

  They had an early breakfast the following morning. Jewel’s nerves were a little on edge as Rialt hadn’t extracted his revenge during the night (as she’d half-expected he would) and so she didn’t know when or where he’d strike. Perhaps picking a prank battle with a veteran commander was a bad idea…although it was too late to think of that now.

  After breakfast they went their separate ways. Alexandra had met them for breakfast and she assured Chizeld that there were indeed blueprints for the Ramath Order building. If he wanted to go and make a copy before sending it to Ramath with instructions for construction, that would be fine. So while Chizeld headed for the library, they went to the resort where the crystal sat.

  Jewel of course had never been to Lyra before and so the many turns and streets they took to get to the resort outside of the city’s limits made no sense to her. By the time she had arrived, her sense of direction had become hopelessly muddled. All she knew was her feet hurt after walking so far. They hadn’t thought to ride here, as it (according to Alexandra, who apparently walked everywhere) wasn’t more than a stretch of the legs.

  “Perhaps you wish to see where she sits first?” Alex
andra offered to Jewel.

  What she really wanted was five minutes sitting down, but Jewel shoved the selfish impulse aside and nodded firmly. “Yes, I would.”

  They left the paved road for grass. The ground had a slight slope to it, as if she were walking along the edge of a hillside. A few moments passed before Alexandra said, “There.”

  There, indeed. Jewel could feel the crystal distinctly. Unlike the others, which had been lying down, this one seemed to be standing upright. Jewel walked closer to it, and since her hand was tucked in Rialt’s arm, she practically dragged him along with her.

  “Wait, lass,” he protested, setting his feet and pulling her to an abrupt halt. “No need to get your feet wet.”

  Feet wet? Alexandra had said that they crystal had a water slide built around it, true, but that didn’t necessarily mean that…oh no…the crystal was actually sitting in the water? For Alexandra’s sake, Jewel posed the question in the least-offensive way. “Alright, describe the situation exactly.”

  “Our crystal-friend is sitting just on the edge of a lake bed,” Sarvell responded promptly. “She’s surrounded on all sides by water, although from here I can’t quite tell how deep. It looks rather shallow, though. From the very top, there is a spiraling slide made of wood and ceramic that wraps around five times until it ends just above the water’s surface.”

  Five times…five rings to either dismantle or somehow work around. “Why do I get the feeling that this is going to be just as challenging as the bridge in Veris?”

  “Because it will be?” Sarvell offered dryly.

  Jewel felt like smacking him. “I need to know how deep the water is. I’m sure that Alexandra and I are going to need some sort of swimming gear to go in after it, but how much do we need?”

  “Yon manager belike knows,” Rialt suggested.

  Well, that was a good point. The manager of this place would know how deep the water was. Jewel turned slightly to her left where Alexandra was standing before asking, “Alexandra, do you know the manager?”