The Dragon of Despair

by Jane Lindskold

  "I think not," Apheros echoed sternly.

  Torio couldn't help but notice how, now that Melina had found another excuse to attack Xarxius, the question of treasonous plotting against the Dragon Speaker had suddenly vanished. She was far too clever to use anything that might show to her own detriment if other opportunities presented themselves.

  Apheros tugged at a bell-pull and two guards entered.

  "Take Xarxius away. I have found him in violation of the law and of his duties. This is a matter to take before the Primes."

  Melina interjected quickly, "Surely you must do some further investigation before troubling the Primes."

  "Indeed," Apheros snapped, his voice decisive. "Xarxius is to be restricted to his personal quarters with no visitors and no servants. His food is to be…"

  Toriovico listened as routine security precautions were outlined to the startled guards. His gaze rested on Xarxius with what he hoped was an expression of mild interest, and he saw the other man's slight smile.

  Torio inclined his head, a marginal bow of acknowledgment.

  I understand, the Healed One thought, wishing he could say more.

  Grateful Peace and Edlin Norwood are Melina's prisoners or you would have located them already. As her enemies, they may be my friends. In any case, they are too valuable to be left in her hands. Peace alone is a mine of information, information Melina must not have.

  When the guards departed with Xarxius, Melina began issuing ordersùalways phrased as suggestions, but orders nonethelessùas to how the case against Xarxius should be constructed. Taking his lead from Apheros, Toriovico spoke when spoken to and listened for cues in Melina's own words as to how and in what manner he should reply.

  Evidently, she was satisfied, for she dismissed themùthere was no other word for her actionùand announced that she would be returning to her study as there was a matter she must continue working on.

  After separating from Melina, Toriovico wrote a short note to Columi. Newly warned of Melina's spreading web, he phrased it with careful innocuousness.

  Do continue your work on our project. It begins to seem as if the other purchaser will be unable to deliver his goods for the Harvest Festival. I myself may be so involved over the next few days as to be unable to further my own interests in this matter. If so, I rely upon you to carry on alone.

  Toriovico could only hope that this noteùcombined with news of Xarxius's disgraceùwould be warning enough to Columi, as well as notification that this setback would not stop the Healed One in his course. If it was intercepted, Torio could quite honestly admit to a plotùone to acquire a secret gift for Melina. He hoped it would be enough.

  Hope was beginning to seem the only thing he did have, and that was a frail net with which to catch a falling kingdom. Toriovico also had the unsettling feeling that although he might have broken Melina's spell, her control over his actions was as tight as ever.

  DERIAN WATCHED in enthralled silence as the latch to the back gate began to rise. The yard was dark, its only occupants himself, Blind Seer, and Firekeeper. It was the latter who had hushed him and pointed toward the gate. It was her hand on his arm that kept him still and quiet, though his fingers tightened around the weighted walking stick without which he no longer went anywhere.

  They'd been out enjoying the coolness that now came with evening, watching the stars and looking for the comet with which Firekeeper was once again obsessed. They had no lantern with them, but the light that shone from the kitchen window gave enough illumination that they could read each other's expressionsùand watch the slow, stealthy raising of the latch.

  The latch reached its apex with a faint snap and the gate eased inward with an audible groan. The movement of the gate halted, then resumed.

  By now, Derian was fascinated rather than afraid. Someone coming to do them mischief wouldn't be so stealthyùat least, the rioters they'd dealt with to this point hadn't been. However, more than his own reasoning, what steadied his nerve was the glimpse he had had of Firekeeper's face. The wolf-woman was smiling, her hand coiled in Blind Seer's scruff as if she expected some entertainment.

  Xarxius ? Derian thought. Firekeeper would find going after Melina beneath Thendulla Lypella amusing, even if any sane person would be scared stiff.

  But it wasn't Xarxius who came around the corner of the gate and eased it closed behind him. It was Nstasius.

  The least Prime was clad much as when they had first seen him, robe and facial ornamentation alike meant for moving unseen through the darkness. Derian guessed that Firekeeperùor Blind Seerùhad known who their visitor was by scent and he tried to word his response in keeping with their odd sense of humor.

  "Hello," Derian said in New Kelvinese, his tones soft and conversational. "Out for a late-night stroll?"

  Firekeeper's slight chuckle assured Derian that he'd been on target, but the least Prime jumped.

  "Counselor Derian! I didn't know you were there."

  "Stargazing," Derian explained laconically. "To what do we owe the honor of your visit?"

  "I'll explain," Nstasius said, "inside, if you don't mind." He glanced at Firekeeper and added, "I wasn't spying."

  Derian translated this for Firekeeper.

  "I not think so," the wolf-woman said, getting to her feet with an apparent ease that Derian knew actually cost her a considerable amount of effort. "He come straight."

  Derian didn't ask how she knew. Explanations would ruin Firekeeper's mystique and they were learning how valuable at least a semblance of magical ability could be when dealing with the New Kelvinese. Instead he motioned toward the door.

  "Come in. I'll gather the rest of the household. We can meet in Doc's consulting room."

  No one had yet retired for the night, though Elise was brushing her hair in preparation. She joined them with the fair mass still loose, looking, Derian thought, incredibly pretty and a whole lot softer than she had these last several days when worry and her assumption of responsibility for everything that had gone wrong had rested on her like some physical burden.

  Wendee and Doc had been playing a two-handed version of a complex New Kelvinese board game Wendee had learned from Hasamemorri. Wendee, Derian saw at a glance, was winning. From Doc's momentarily unguarded expression when he caught his first glimpse of Elise, he wouldn't be feeling his losses for long.

  "I have news from Thendulla Lypella," Nstasius began as soon as greetings were concluded. "News that may have a great effect on you and your safety. Xarxius has been taken into custody pending question of possible treason. Rumor says that the reason for his arrest has something to do with his meeting with some of your household."

  Elise replied with such promptness that Derian knew she was trying to forestall anyone saying anything foolish.

  "How can our meeting with him be treasonous? Isn't he your minister for trade?"

  Nstasius looked very unhappy.

  "Apparentlyùand what I know originates with the guards who arrested Xarxius at the Dragon Speaker's commandùConsolor Melina and the Healed One were present at the arrest. There was some talk of slave tradingùand something to do with the former Dragon's Eye Grateful Peace having been part of your company."

  Xarxius has betrayed us! was Derian's first thought, then he wondered, But why would they arrest him for giving news about Grateful Peace? There's more here than Nstasius knows.

  Elise apparently reached a similar conclusion, for she asked, "And why would you warn us? Is this some sort of trap?"

  Nstasius glanced to where Firekeeperùwho had been following via Wendee's whispered translationùhad begun to growl.

  "No!" he cried as if vehemence alone could shield him. "Not at all. I told you how the party to which I belong favors our kingdom's advancement. We can't do that if we're at war with our neighbors. Hawk Haven has proven itself a military power not to be ignored. I have no desire for my government to create a situation that would cause your king to declare war on us."

  "And treason," Elise said, "is
not something that can be done by oneself. If Xarxius is convicted of treason then we will be convictedùby association if nothing elseùas spies. Is that how you see it?"

  "Rather," Nstasius agreed. "What will you do?"

  Elise glanced at the others.

  "Stay right here," she said. "We have done nothing and my ward is in the Earth Spires. I have no desire to leave without her."

  Derian nodded his agreement, though he wondered if the wisest thing would be to cut their losses and get out. So far, it seemed, Melina had all the victories on her side.

  Nstasius surprised him.

  "Good," he said. "My political associates and I think this may be our opportunity to undermine Apheros's government. Xarxius has not been brought up for formal examination yet, but when he is, we plan to use this situation to call for a vote of confidence. If we win, Apheros will be Dragon Speaker no longer."

  "And you will be," Derian said dryly.

  "Oh, no," Nstasius laughed. "I am far too junior, but I may be one of the new Three. We shall have to see. The point is, we can demonstrate how the actions of Apheros's government have made our international political situation precarious in the extreme, how the questioning of Xarxius's actions in regard to you could be seen as an insult to your kingdom. If you planned to leave, we would have had to structure our criticism to say we would mend the breach. Now we can say we will prevent the breach. It's much nicer that way."

  Elise looked as exasperated and confused as Derian felt.

  "I'm sure it is," she said, "and in the meantime, what will you do for Xarxius?"

  "Xarxius?" Nstasius looked genuinely puzzled. "I suppose he'll return to some post in the Stargazers."

  "So you'll set him free?"

  "Certainly," Nstasius said. "Our entire point will be that he was only doing his job, and that if Apheros cannot trust his own Three, how can he be trusted to run New Kelvin?"

  "There is a certain amount of sense there," Derian agreed, "but your way of thinking makes my head spin."

  "Prime Nstasius, aren't you worried," Elise said, "that we might have been involved in treasonous talks with Xarxius?"

  Nstasius looked momentarily unhappy, then shook his head.

  "The slave-trading charge is all nonsense. It has to do with that ward you mentioned a moment ago, Citrine Shield. The guard said that when Xarxius mentioned that you wanted the girl back, Consolor Melina immediately said something about trading in human flesh with people from Hawk Haven being against our law and Apheros supported her. That's when Xarxius said what he did about Grateful Peace."

  He paused and smiled apologetically.

  "Secondhand information and not the best. Apheros doesn't want his guards to be the type who remember too much, but this fellow has a cousin who is of my partyùApheros doesn't know that, of courseùand who routinely passes information our way. Most of it isn't worth much, but this!"

  For a moment, Nstasius looked as pleased as a cat who'd gotten into the cream. Then he suddenly became apprehensive.

  "I need to leave. Who knows what the charges would be if I'm seen here?"

  "Treason at least," Derian offered. "Though isn't it legal for your government to overthrow itself from within?"

  "We don't think of it as overthrowing," Nstasius said, "just changing the old guard for one that is fresh."

  Wendee looked up from her whispered translation.

  "How did you get here? Do you know you weren't seen?"

  "I don't think I was," Nstasius replied. "I rode with a friend in a hired litter, then slipped out and into the alley. I stayed near the wall and I don't think there's anyone in that alley."

  "I not think there is," Firekeeper replied after a moment. "Blind Seer and me make it not so nice."

  Derian decided not to ask just how they had done this. On reflection, just knowing the two of them were prowling out there periodically could dissuade even the bravest. Hasamemorri's yard was screened by trees still fully in leaf, so it was doubtful that anyone was spying on the back of the building from adjoining buildings.

  "I'll leave by the alley again," Nstasius said, "until I link up with some more populous streets. Then I'll rejoin the crowd."

  "And we," Firekeeper said, "will go with you."

  WHEN THE WOLF-WOMAN RETURNED some time later she was visibly exhausted.

  It may be a good thing that Xarxius didn't come for us tonight, Derian thought. Firekeeper still isn't strong.

  He didn't say anything, of course, only brought Firekeeper a thick slab of bread and cheese.

  "I not think," Firekeeper reported between bites, "that anyone see Nstasius. I have Bee Biter go and fly high to see if anyone in trees or too interested at windows. He say he not see anyone. Blind Seer and me, we not see anyone either."

  "That's something," Elise said, "but it doesn't solve our current problem. Simply put: I don't think Xarxius is going to be slipping anyone into the Earth Spires to find out where Melina goes at night, and now it's more important than ever that we know what she is doing."

  Doc nodded.

  "I agree. I don't think any of us missed that Melina was there when Xarxius was arrestedùor that she seemed to have a lot to do with it."

  Firekeeper seemed hardly herself as the voice of caution.

  "But we no can go in there looking for Peace and Edlin. They are bait in a snare for us. We know that."

  "You're right," Elise agreed, and Derian caught a strange light in her sea green eyes. "We can't charge in there looking for Peace and Edlinùbut I can go to the Earth Spires and demand that Citrine be returned to me."

  They all stared at Elise in amazement.

  "We've made our requests through the usual channels," Elise explained with a patient deliberation that was at odds with the glow in her eyes. "Within a day or so it will be perfectly reasonable for us to have heard about Xarxius's disgrace. Right?"

  Nods all around, and Derian heard himself saying:

  "If you want confirmation as to how well the rumor has spread, you could ask Ambassador Redbriar."

  "Good." Elise twisted a coil of her loose hair around her finger. "When we met with Xarxius, he said that he'd spoken with the Healed One, that the Healed One had taken a personal interest in Citrine's case."

  "He did," Derian confirmed in response to questioning glances from those who had not been present. "He said we could have Citrine back if we found out where Melina has been going nights."

  "Right," Elise said, not in the least daunted. "As I see it, we've got this Healed One in an interesting situation."

  Wendee interrupted, "The Healed One could deny that Xarxius ever spoke with him about Citrine. That's what I'd do if Xarxius is really in disgrace. Maybe Xarxius did lie about the Healed One. Maybe the Healed One knows nothing about your request."

  Elise refused to be shaken from her purpose.

  "I don't see why Xarxius should lie about something that big. After all, he's basically a duke himself. He doesn't need to make himself more important by saying he's talked to the king, not to us, not when we're supplicants."

  "Except," Derian broke in, catching Elise's excitement, "if Xarxius was a sort of supplicant! He did want us to do something for him. His mentioning the Healed One gets really interesting then. Either he was just trying to make us feel like dirtùsort of I take your lady and counselor and raise you by a kingùor he was mentioning the Healed One deliberately, saying basically that the Healed One himself was interested in knowing what Melina was up to."

  Doc nodded agreement with a thin smile.

  "Well, I certainly would want to know if my wife was prowling around nights, especially if that prowling wasn't for any of the usual mischief."

  Derian grinned at him.

  "So you wouldn't mind if your wife was prowling for the 'usual mischief?"

  Doc colored slightly and punched Derian in the shoulder.

  "If we could be serious for a moment," Elise said, and Derian thought her own color was a bit high, "my plan is to get an audience w
ith the Healed One and then insist in my best high and mighty manner that I must have Citrine back."

  "Could you really do that?" Wendee asked, and Derian recalled his own awe regarding monarchs. "March in to a king?"

  Elise giggled.

  "Have you ever met my Grandmother Rosene? I plan to model myself on her."

  "Eagle's Wings over us all," Doc murmured.

  Elise stuck her tongue out at him.

  "As I see it," she continued, "if the Healed One wants us to do something for him he will arrange a private interviewùafter all, he can't come to us. If Xarxius did lie about the Healed One's involvement or the Healed One is afraid of what he once would have dared, we won't be granted our audience."

  "And Melina?" Wendee asked a bit breathlessly. "All this time we've been working to avoid a direct confrontation with her. There's no way she won't learn about this."

  Elise nodded.

  "As I see it, by using Xarxius's interview with us to arrest him she has made it impossible for us to continue acting as if we're unaware of her influence. Really, from the moment she kept Citrine rather than sending her back to us she has opened a door."

  Firekeeper, clearly remembering the traps she had encountered during her second venture into the sewers, frowned.

  "I hope that this door is not into a pit or room of armed soldiers."

  "Me, too," Elise agreed. "But in case it is I think we should all go to call on the Healed One togetherùmore of us to deal with whatever we encounter."

  "All of us?" Wendee squeaked.

  "All of us," Elise repeated firmly. "Two titled ladies, a knight, a counselor to the king, and a confidant of a duchess. It will be hard for Melina to justify making all of us disappear."

  Derian nodded slowly.

  "And if she plans to do so," he added, "we're only making it easier for her by waiting here, trapped indoors by the unrest of her subjects."

  He rubbed his hands across his face, suddenly weary.

  "Yes," Elise agreed. "It's too late to contact Violet Redbriar and learn if news of Xarxius's arrest has become public and we can't reasonably act until then. We'll call on the ambassador first thing in the morning."