‘You might want to lie down -’ Aysun made a lunge for him, or tried to, but his weakened body didn’t react. Pensould slithered out of his chair onto the floor and passed out.
Rufin swore, using all his best curse-words. ‘Something wrong with the air in here or what?’ He laid Aysun on the floor and stuffed a jacket under his head. ‘Sorry, man. I’m getting out of here before I, too, pull a pansy fainting routine.’ Aysun distantly heard the door open and shut and Rufin’s heavy booted tread faded down the corridor.
Sleeping was such a wonderful idea. He couldn’t think of a better one just then, so he slept.
***
Avane Desandry’s house was small and unimpressive. Limbane hastened up to her front door, feeling harried and grouchy. It had taken far too long to find his way through this realm’s muddle of bureaucracy to learn her address. He didn’t know how Krays had discovered the identities of the other two draykoni hereditaries, but the rogue Lokant had been ahead of Limbane every step of the way so far. Limbane had worked fast, but he feared he hadn’t been fast enough.
He looked for a doorbell but there wasn’t one, only a simple doorknocker. He lifted it and tapped sharply on the door, waited some minutes then tapped again. No sounds of life reached his ears, and he could sense no movement from within.
Curse you, Krays. He traipsed to the back of the house, secreting himself in an out-of-sight corner. Then he translocated himself past the walls.
Nobody was inside the house, as he expected. Nor had anybody been home in a while. The house held that hush that descends after days of inactivity. Worse, there were signs that Avane’s departure hadn’t been planned.
So: both the hereditaries besides Llandry were taken. He’d made a guess at Krays’s intentions for them, but the rogue Lokant’s ruthlessness could still surprise him. What might the man do with two - or three - draykoni shape shifters?
And this one had a child, presumably taken along with its mother.
Leaving the house by the same means, he crossed to the neighbouring property and knocked on the door. It was quickly answered by a middle-aged woman who stared at Limbane suspiciously.
‘I’m so sorry to bother you,’ he said, adopting his most urbane manner. ‘I’m looking for Avane Desandry, but I find she isn’t at home. Do you know where she is?’
‘Haven’t you heard? Avane’s gone. No one knows where.’ She made to shut the door but he stopped her.
‘When did she go?’
‘Two days back.’ She shoved him out of the way and slammed the door. He understood. When people fell to vanishing without trace, neighbours got wary.
He strolled back through the garden, thinking. Then, without bothering to conceal himself, he translocated back to the Library.
Andraly was waiting for him in his reading room. She read the look on his face and smirked.
‘Life giving you trouble, Baney?’
‘Specifically, Krays is giving me trouble. What do you want?’
‘I thought you’d want to hear the news about your latest favourite, little Llandry Sanfaer.’
Limbane’s heart suddenly contracted. Had Llandry been taken while he conducted his futile hunt for Vanse and Desandry?
‘Tell me quickly.’ He crossed to his cabinet and poured himself a drink. A strong one.
The tale Andraly related had nothing to do with Krays, he was relieved to learn. But it was bad enough. He sat, sipping his liquor, his free hand gripping his aching head.
‘Right,’ he sighed when she’d finished. He pondered her information silently for some minutes. Andraly, used to his reveries, did not interrupt him.
‘Do you think that’s the end of it?’
‘Andraly shook her head. ‘That red beast had the air of fanaticism about her. She’ll be back, with more draykoni in tow I’d wager.’
‘Knowing the draykoni nature as we do, I’m sure you’re right.’ He put his empty glass down and sank deeper into his chair, feeling weary and incredibly old.
Which he was.
‘You think you’ve put a stop to a problem...’
Andraly rolled her eyes. ‘I know. It’s like humans just can’t be sensible.’
Limbane narrowed his eyes at her. ‘You were one, once.’
‘Not a whole one. Only a bit.’ She smiled winsomely at him. Andraly was, technically, a partial. She’d been born in Glour, many centuries ago, to a human mother. But her father had been a full Lokant, and she had taken after him in every way. As a Librarian, she wasn’t far short of Limbane’s own strength.
‘What to do.’ Limbane tapped his fingers against his knee, thinking.
‘Why do anything? Leave them to it. We gave up on this Cluster long ago, and for good reason.’
‘Can you mean that? This is your world we’re speaking of, Andraly.’
She shrugged one shoulder. ‘Not really. I happened to be born there, but that was a long time ago. I’m a Librarian.’
The woman was relentlessly cold. It made her a good Lokant, if he was honest with himself. It was him who was weak.
‘What troubles me about all this is Krays. If not for him, I could agree with you: leave the humans and draykoni to fight it out all over again, if they wish. But the fact that Krays is taking such an interest bothers me.’
Andraly considered that. ‘Fair point,’ she conceded.
‘He’s throwing a lot of resources into whatever he’s doing. It certainly seems to have captured his full attention. That makes me nervous. He’ll only work that hard on something that promises to put him ahead in some way.’
‘Ahead? Of what?’
‘Of us. And specifically, of me.’
Andraly grinned. ‘You’re really not that scary, Baney. I can’t think what Krays is bothered about.’
‘Thanks.’
‘Jace agrees with you.’
‘Oh? Why?’
‘Same reason. He hates Krays even more than you do. I think he would like to eat his liver, if he got the chance.’
‘I’ll be happy to save him the liver.’
Andraly leaned forward. ‘So we’re taking him on?’
‘Hm. It might come to that, yes. For a start, we’re scaling up our efforts to find out what he’s up to. Any word from our new agents yet?’
‘Not yet. I checked in on them a while back. Her haughty ladyship said they had a man working on it.’
Limbane’s brows lifted. ‘You don’t like Lady Glostrum?’
Andraly gave a cruel smile. ‘She’s competition.’
‘Ah.’ He dismissed that problem. Andraly could take care of her own personal business.
‘All right. I’m loathe to do this, but I think we have to consider it. Krays has taken two people I’m interested in. They’re probably stashed at the pitiful little island he’s audacious enough to call a Library. We’re going to get them out.’
‘Which two people?’
‘Our other two draykoni hereditaries.’
Andraly whistled. ‘Got there first, did he? That must gall you.’
‘Somewhat,’ Limbane snapped. ‘Gather everyone, get everything. Krays may be an idiot but he keeps his “Library” well defended.’
Andraly jumped up, looking like a child with a present to open. ‘Yes, sir!’ She saluted, her face wreathed in a beaming smile, then left the room.
Limbane sighed. Somebody really needed to rein that woman in.
Chapter Twenty Five
Eva’s one fear about using Recender was his cunning. If he thought he could delay her departure by taking longer over her request, he would certainly do it. She had stressed the importance of her schedule as strongly as she knew how; after that there was nothing to do but wait.
Two days passed and Recender produced nothing useful. Eva, chafing at the delay, spent many hours with the ambassador, intent on keeping him on track. But she was careful to reserve some hours to herself and Tren’s company as well. Having little else to do, the two of them spent most of their time in their private pa
rlour at Wirllen’s best quality inn, both trying to read.
On the second day, Eva and Tren were sitting on opposite sides of their parlour, both pretending to read and neither feeling in any way comfortable, when Andraly appeared. Eva’s mind had been more on Recender and the problem of Iro Byllant than on her book; these reflections were frustrating and unproductive and she welcomed the interruption.
Tren on the other hand took one look at Andraly and slouched deeper in his chair, holding his book in such a way as to cover most of his face. He did his best to look utterly absorbed in the book he wasn’t reading.
Odd.
Andraly’s manner towards Eva herself wasn’t as it had formerly been either. Her smile held a cruel edge and even a hint of a challenge, one that Eva didn’t understand. She dropped a mocking curtsey, grinning.
‘Any news?’
‘None.’
‘None at all? How disappointing. But I can see you two are working hard.’ She stared at Tren, who refused to look up.
‘We got nothing out of our lead. Warehouse empty. But I have somebody on it.’
‘Somebody?’
‘A friend.’
‘Oh, ’ said Andraly with exaggerated relief. ‘That’s all right then.’
She vanished.
‘What a pleasant visit.’ Eva kept her eyes on Tren until he finally looked up, peeking at her over the top of his book.
‘Is she gone?’
‘Do you want to explain what that was about?’
He coughed. ‘Er. Not really, no.’
‘And you call me secretive.’ She muttered the words under her breath, knowing Tren could hear them anyway. He contributed nothing but a crooked smile by way of answer.
‘All right, keep your secrets.’
‘You’re becoming a grumpy old woman. It’s being cooped up in here with me that does it. How about a walk?’
‘Old? An old woman?’
‘I, um, didn’t mean that.’
She turned her back on him. ‘We can’t walk. Recender might send word.’
Tren heaved a sigh. ‘In that case, do you have anything more interesting to read?’
‘More interesting than what?’
Tren tossed her the book. The title read A History of the Royal Family of Orstwych, 1652 - 1745.
The book was six inches thick.
Eva sorted through the scanty pile of volumes that lay on the table beside her. ‘I’ve got a trashy romance novel or a trashy romance novel.’
‘Ooh. Are they steamy?’
Eva glanced with distaste at the pages of her own volume. ‘This one is sadly lacking in racier content.’
‘Ah.’ Tren’s face fell. ‘Ah well. It’s got to be better than the exploits of Old Orstwych’s ninth monarch at boarding school.’
Eva threw him a book.
Sometime later, the very same green clothbound volume went sailing past her head to strike the wall.
‘Not a success, I take it.’ Eva spoke without looking up.
‘I made it to page fifty-three. The heroine has wept on every single page. ’
She laughed. ‘Of course she has. It shows her extraordinary sensitivity.’
‘And the hero? He falls for it every time. Like he has nothing better to do than comfort wailing women.’ Tren groaned. ‘Preserve me from ever being saddled with such a watering-pot, I beg you.’
Eva let her eyes grow big and mournful. ‘You’re saying you couldn’t love a sensitive woman?’
‘No!’
‘Oh.’ She spoke the word in a very small voice, her eyes filling with tears. ‘I had no idea you were so - so - unfeeling.’
Tren glared at her, suspicion written all over his hard stare.
Eva’s eyes spilled over. She let one tear roll slowly down her cheek.
Tren folded his arms. ‘Come on. You’re not really crying.’
‘I never imagined you were so stone-hearted,’ Eva sobbed, groping for a handkerchief.
‘Stop it! This is silly. You’re a strong woman. I doubt you’ve really cried since you were about ten.’
‘Silly? ’ Eva managed a creditable wail and began to weep in earnest, using the handkerchief to hide her face.
‘Okay, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean silly.’
Eva cried on.
‘Oh, for...’ Tren left his chair and crossed to her, bending to peer into her face. ‘Is this real? Because, uh, I didn’t mean to upset you. And it does look real. Sounds it too. Eva? Are you all right?’
Eva collapsed into laughter. The giggling fit was of considerable length, leaving her short of breath when at last she stopped howling with mirth.
‘So... easy,’ she gasped.
Tren straightened with tremendous dignity. ‘You,’ he said with emphasis, ‘are horrible.’
‘I know.’
A tap came at the door. She was instantly alert, smoothing the laughter out of her face and mopping up the tears. Tren picked up the discarded volume and hid it as the door opened, revealing one of the downstairs servants.
‘A note for my lady,’ the man said with a respectful bow.
‘Thank you.’ Eva accepted it with trepidation, dreading the contents. Did Recender have information for her, or was this an announcement of failure? She felt as though her standing with the Lokants depended on success in this venture, leaving her terribly afraid of failure.
The servant bowed again and left, closing the door.
‘Are you going to read it, or shall I?’
Eva scowled at him. Tearing open the seal, she quickly scanned the contents.
Ana Breyre, graduated from Ullarn’s Academy of Summoning in 1897.
Griel Ruart, graduated from Ullarn’s Academy of Sorcery in 1898.
The above married 1901. Disappeared from our records 1903.
No birth, education, marriage or death records exist for the one known as Iro Byllant. Conclude it is an assumed name. One address on file. See me for more information.
- B. R.
She handed the note to Tren and took up pacing the parlour, torn between relief, elation and disappointment.
She wasn’t vastly surprised to find that Byllant’s was an assumed name, but it was a blow. He could be anybody. She also wanted to throttle Recender for sending her an incomplete report. See me for more information? Why couldn’t he just send the address with the rest? Now she would have to waste more time on him.
On the other hand, it was something to have Ana and Griel’s identities confirmed. She’d been right that they were Ullarni. That thought gave her a little glow of satisfaction: she always enjoyed being right.
Tren looked up from reading with a frown. ‘So, back to Recender’s?
‘I suppose so.’
He coughed. ‘Will this be another all-night visit?’
‘No. ’
Eva strode into Recender’s drawing-room, struggling to keep her irritation hidden. The ambassador reclined in his silly dressing-gown once again, smoking something from a pipe. The stuff smelled disgusting.
‘Brun,’ she purred. ‘You’ve done a fantastic job, but there seems to be a little bit missing in the note I received.’
The ambassador said nothing. He removed his pipe from his mouth and put it aside. Then he patted his lap.
Eva didn’t move.
Recender’s eyes glinted. ‘I see.’ He stood up and sauntered across the room, letting his hand brush across Eva’s hip as he passed. She turned quickly, keeping a close eye on him.
He opened a locked cabinet. Eva tensed: here would be the final clue she needed, something she could use to chase down Byllant.
But the sound of pouring liquid reached her ears. Disbelieving, she edged around him until she could see the contents of the cabinet.
He had set out two small glasses and was filling them with dark red liquor.
‘Brun. I came here for the address.’
‘And you shall have it,’ he said, turning. ‘Later.’ He offered her one of the glasses. When she didn’t
move to take it, he picked up her hand and curled her fingers around the stem. She was obliged to grip it before it fell to the floor.
Not that she cared for the fate of Recender’s carpet, but the splash might get on her pale golden silk dress. And this was a marvellous gown.
‘I don’t have time for this. I believe I warned you that my stay would be brief.’
‘Why so fleeting a visit, my lady?’ Recender sipped from his own glass, moving to stand closer to her than she appreciated.
‘The matter is urgent.’
‘It can wait another hour, I’m sure.’ His eyes ran up and down her body. ‘Perhaps two?’
‘Not another ten minutes.’
‘Ah.’ He set down his glass and slipped a hand into one of his pockets. Eva’s heart rose with hope; perhaps this time he would give her what she had come for.
Instead he retrieved a small velvet box. Flipping open the top, he showed her the contents.
An enormous blood-red ruby ring nestled inside on sleek satin. The stone glimmered darkly in the low light of the drawing-room.
‘What’s that for?’
‘It is for you to wear, my lady.’ His hand suddenly lashed out and grabbed her wrist. Forcing her closer, he extracted the ring and shoved it onto her finger.
He specifically selected the left ring finger. As soon as his grip loosened, Eva yanked back her hand and tugged off the ring.
‘This is nonsense. Give me the address.’
‘You won’t be leaving, my lady. At least not this evening.’
‘Oh?’ She kept her tone mild, but inside she was seething.
‘Marry me. We make an excellent team; you’ve said it yourself.’
Eva swallowed. Perhaps she had overdone her mental persuasion just a little bit.
‘A tempting offer, but one I’ll have to refuse.’ He was coming at her again; she backed away until she hit the drawing-room wall. She tried to sidle sideways but his arms shot out, blocking her escape. She took a deep breath. Here was a fine test of her new abilities; one she wasn’t sure she was ready for.
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