"What's a germ, Bodi? She tried not to look hurt at his rejections.
"It's a tiny invisible squiggly thing that makes you sick. A strand of unruly strawberry blond hair slipped across his face and he flicked it back.
"I don't have any of those. Lilac examined her clothes. Nope not a one."
Bodi looked impatient, and took his book from his pocket. Lilac could never figure out how he got such a large book in his pocket.
The title read St. Grambs Bodacious Universal Dictionary .
Bodi patted the book. You need a microscope to see them."
"You're fibbing. There's no such thing as a microscope."
"It's in the book."
"Who are you?"
At the sound of a new voice behind them, Bodi turned around, bringing him face to face with a lycan cub who had scruffy reddish-brown hair, a snub nose, a sprinkling of freckles, and azure eyes glinting with suspicion.
* * * *
Rory walked away from the Maguire House, intending to go home and do some work for Cahira. He didn't need to as she had given him time off to sit with Cooley. Despite everyone's assurance to the contrary, Rory still felt guilty over Cooley's wound. Brooding, he strayed like a lonely ghost across East Pendarke Road to the grounds of the manor and drifted to the treehouse. He knew that Darmyk was still away, but he decided to go sit in the treehouse and think.
When he got close, Rory spied a little girl and boy standing beneath the treehouse. They appeared to be human and oddly out of place, which spurred his curiosity. Who are you?"
Bodi spun around and looked at him. Friends."
"Friends of who? Rory asked suspiciously.
"Darmyk and you."
"I don't know you. Rory's hand slipped down to the sling he carried.
"You do now. Bodi shoved the book in his pocket and extended his hand.
"I'm Rory Scott. Who are you? Rory shook Bodi's hand.
"I'm Bodi. Some folks call me Bodisa. Others call me Niwi. My mom named me Bodisaniwi. That's all of me."
"I'm Lilac. She curtsied to him.
Rory smiled. It might have been magic or it might have been the simple intuition of childhood, but Rory felt comforted by their presence in a way he found utterly inexplicable. What are you doing here?"
"Darmyk told me to meet him at the treehouse, a bodacious phrontistery of a treehouse."
Rory giggled. What's that mean?"
"Can't you talk normal, Bodi? Lilac lowered her head, giving him a look of gentle disapprobation.
"The words are in the book. You can look them up. Bodi's mouth pursed.
"I don't want to look them up. So there! Lilac stamped her foot indignantly. I still say there's no such thing as a microscope."
Inspiration struck Rory. Darmyk's at his great gramma's place. But I have a sick friend..."
"A sick friend? Does he like stories? Bodi began to parade in small circles around Rory and Lilac. I have lots of stories. I have a special book. I found it in a haunted ruin."
Rory blinked. A haunted ruin?"
"Oh yes, we did, said Lilac. I got all scared, but Bodi didn't."
"Frozbie keeps calling us ever cheerful little walking disaster zones, but we aren't really. We're just plain average..."
Lilac clamped her hands over Bodi's mouth. I ever tell you that you talk too much?"
Bodi pulled her hands off his mouth and nodded. Frequently."
"Would you like to meet my friend and tell him stories? Rory looked hopefully from Bodi to Lilac and back again.
"Sure thing. Take me to your leader."
Lilac frowned. He's always saying silly things like that. He gets it from Pieface. I'm constantly having to tell Pieface that there's no such thing as soggy camels and he should just stop looking for them."
"Now who's talking too much, Bodi muttered.
"What's a soggy camel? Rory cocked his head at Lilac.
She stuck her arms out straight and ran around in circles. Vroooom! Vrooom! I'm flying! I'm a soggy camel."
Rory giggled. Come on then. Cooley's going to like you both."
Lilac stopped running and lowered her arms. Pieface is always telling stories about soggy camels that get chased by forkers. Sometimes the camels chase the forkers, but not if there's a purple baron riding on the forker."
Rory led the way to the Maguire home and took them inside.
Kady spotted them as she emerged from Kynyr's study, having left some new books there for him. Hello, I haven't seen you before."
Rory introduced them quickly. Bodi and Lilac are friends of Darmyk's and want to visit Cooley."
A puzzled look came on Kady's face. Are you from the Sanctuary?"
Lilac shook her head. We're staying with our uncle until our gramma gets here."
"Who's your uncle?"
Bodi glanced at Lilac and she nodded. Uncle Luciano. That's who we're staying with."
A bright smile crossed Kady's lips. I know him. Would you like some cookies?"
Both of them nodded and then followed Rory to Cooley's room.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
A NIGHT OF TROUBLES
It had been a rough day for Kynyr, and yet nothing had happened. He had awakened in his bed at the manor with a dull headache that worsened as the day went on. Now, he sat on the edge of his bed, rubbing his temples. The throbbing in his head had become violent, nausea lurked in his stomach, and his muscles hurt. He wondered what was wrong with him.
Finn came in. Dinner has been set out. Claw asked me to look for you."
"I'll be there in a moment."
Finn sat down next to him, head tilted as he regarded his spiritbrother. You don't look good."
"I've been getting headaches. They go away for a bit, but then they come back."
"You taking anything for them?"
"Willow bark doesn't even begin to ease them. Kynyr grimaced.
"Let's go down to the kitchen and ask Isbeth for something better?"
"Okay. Kynyr pushed himself off the bed and the change in position made his head pound so terribly that it felt as if someone was applying a mace to it.
He tottered to his feet and halted, hoping it would subside a bit.
Finn's frown deepened with worry. You sure you can make it to the kitchen?"
"Yeah. It's just a headache."
When they reached the kitchen, Kynyr settled at the big table where the nibari prepared food. Kissie poured him a cup of tea and he clutched it in shaking hands.
Isbeth, standing at the stove, frowned at him. You don't look well."
"Headache."
"Have you tried willowbark? Kissie asked.
"Doesn't help."
"I have something better. Isbeth headed for the pantry.
Kynyr looked up hopefully. What?"
"Poppy milk."
Kynyr stared into his teacup. Yeah."
Isbeth went into the pantry, took a bottle of poppy milk from a shelf, and reached into her apron pocket. She fought back tears. The only thing that Malthus could not do was forbid her tears, and Isbeth spent more and more time weeping. She brought out the bottle of poison, and opened it. Her hands shook so hard as she added the poison to the drug that she nearly dropped it. Yet the coercions burning in her brain were too deep and strong, forcing her to act against her instincts. She got the entire quantity into the poppy milk as Malthus had instructed. Replacing the lid, Isbeth shook the bottle to blend it all together. Then she carried it out to Kynyr.
He accepted it and took a large swallow. After a few minutes, he grinned. That helps. That definitely helps."
"I knew it would."
Finn frowned and touched Isbeth's cheek. Is that a tear?
Isbeth flinched from his fingers. It's nothing, Master Finn. New baby mood swings is all."
"Since the headaches keep coming backcan I keep the bottle? Kynyr asked.
Isbeth glanced at Kissie who nodded.
Kynyr slipped the bottle into a small pouch at the bottom of his weapons harness. Than
ks."
Dinner was served that day in the Blue Room, so Finn and Kynyr headed upstairs. When they got there, they found that Claw had gotten impatient and started dinner without them. Claw, Malthus, and Belgair were the only ones present. It all seemed empty without Aisha, Fianait, Searlait, and Merissa there.
"Bout time you got here, Claw growled as Kynyr slipped into his place at the chieftain's right hand across from Malthus.
"I'm sorry. I was delayed. Kynyr scanned the food. None of it looked vaguely appetizing, despite the fact that Isbeth and Kissie had prepared all of his favorite dishes.
Kynyr picked at his food, eating very little and excused himself at the first opportunity. Malthus gaze trailed him out. Kynyr returned to his bedroom and took the bottle of poppy milk from the pouch on his harness. He took several swallows, closed it, and returned it to the pouch. Then he stripped the harness off and hung it from the chair by his bed.
All he wanted to do was fall asleep and stop hurting. Too tired to remove his clothes, he stretched out on his bed fully clothed and soon slept. A white gold chain slipped from beneath his collar and the azure crystal he always wore, which allowed him to call out to his grandmother Cahira when he needed her, settled by his head. Kynyr felt it in his sleep as an impossible weight on his aching neck, pulling at his throbbing head. He reached up without fully waking, and snapped the chain. It slithered through his fingers onto the floor, caught upon a knot in the boards and vanished beneath them.
* * * *
Malthus lingered in the Blue Room long after the remains of dinner had been cleared away and the household settled down to sleep. The signs of illness had been written large across Kynyr's face and aura. Kynyr would suffer before he died.
Claw sat drinking the cursed rum that Malthus had given him, looking more morose as the night deepened.
Malthus could tell that all it would take was one more major upset to push Claw into another heart attack. He began pacing back and forth as if troubled, all the while watching Claw. Yren was just fifteen and you had him tortured to death. He wasn't a bad young mon. The crowd threw stones and trash at his mother when she tried to claim his body. It was abominable."
"Why are you bringing this up again? Claw scowled. The evidence is genuine. The dog was guilty."
Malthus spun around and faced him. What evidence? Did he confess?"
A cloak of exhaustion and pain shrouded Claw, making it hard to think of what to say. The chest pains were worse than ever. Claw poured a dose of medicine into his glass and drank it. Then he lit his pipe and puffed for several moments. Caimbeul kept a keyed memory stone. His attackers spoke Yren and Nesswen's names while he lay dying."
Malthus dropped into a chair confounded. He had expected the witness to have been someone, possibly a nibari, who had overhead their names called. Malthus did not remember Caimbeul wearing any rings or other jewelry that might have contained a memory stonesurely he would have noticed it? Another oddity. The oddities and surprises had been piling up ever since Pandeena's arrival. But perhaps it was just because Caimbeul had had a fireborn as a grandbitch. If you had not told me, I would never have dreamed."
Claw shoved his hand inside his robe, digging his nails into the left side of his chest as color fled his face. He panted, the lines of his face tightening into a grimace. It's not for you to question."
"I considered the youths working there my responsibility. Beth had asked me to help with them, because I'm older and more experienced. It's a shock reallyhow little I knew about them. I thought I knew them well."
Claw's breathing worsened, and he hunched forward. We're lycans. Best intentions or not, you're human."
Malthus watched him closely, watched the next heart attack bear down on the old wolf, wondering if this one would finally kill him. You don't look well. Shall I fetch Sheradyn or get you some wine?"
He lifted the empty rum bottle and wagged it.
"Whiskey. I've taken his bloody medicine."
Malthus fetched a bottle that he had spelled and opened it. Shall I pour?"
Claw straightened with an effort and snatched the bottle, pouring his own and slamming the bottle onto the table so hard it rattled the glasses. I'm not an invalid."
"I didn't say you were. Malthus filled his own glass. This has been hard on you. You should delegate more. Belgair can handle most of it, and I'm willing to help him."
"I don't want Belgair. If I need something done, Kynyr will do it. Claw drank the first glass and poured a second.
Malthus extended his awareness to taste the distress and pain in Claw's body that his aura broadcast. He could not feed on it without his hands on the old bastard, but he could enjoy it. Didn't Merissa have brothers? I was told not to speak of them, but I need to know for Merissa's sake."
Claw glared at him over the rim of his glass. They're both dead. Sa'necari murdered my sons before Merissa was born."
The chieftain's suffering became intensely fragrant to Malthus senses, and he considered what he might say to push Claw over the edge. Then he remembered that not only had Claw's sons been rited, but that Claw had been forced to watch it happen. They were rited?"
"I don't want to talk about it. Distress added to the ugliness in Claw's pain-lined face.
"So there's no adult male heirs besides Kynyr? That must worry you."
"There's my brother, Brock. I've sent for him."
First Kynyr, and then a Guildsmon, then those strangers living with the priest, and now Brock. Two many variables are entering my equations. I must move more quickly.
"I've heard things about Brock ... ugly things."
"You've been talking to Belgair. Claw finished the second glass, and poured a third.
"Among others. It's all over the village."
Malthus sensed the spell on the whiskey accelerating the approach of Claw's third heart attack. Anticipation filled Malthus with pleasure.
"Damnit! Why won't those filthy gossips leave my brother alone? The chieftain's jaw clenched and he gritted out, Help me to bed."
The heart attack arrived, far worse than the previous two. Claw groaned, digging his fingers into his chest, and breathing hard. Gods, help me. It's a bad one."
Malthus shouldered Claw's arm. The old wolf leaned heavily upon him, his steps tottering as they reached the stairwell. The stone stairs were part of the oldest section of the manor. Malthus halted there instead of continuing down the hallway to Claw's chambers.
"What are you waiting for? Get me to bed."
"Guess. Malthus let Claw's arm slide from his grip.
Claw swayed and grabbed at the wall.
Malthus shoved Claw into the stairwell. For an instant, Claw remained upright, and then his eyes widened as his knees gave. He swung around in a crumbling pirouette, and his legs folded. Claw fell hard, striking his head and his back repeatedly as he tumbled out of control. Bones snapped and broke against the unyielding edge of the stone stairs. The chieftain sprawled like a broken doll at the bottom where he lay very still.
Malthus smiled, listening to discover if anyone had heard. Once he ascertained that one approached or was near, Malthus trotted lightly down the stairs and knelt beside Claw. He touched Claw's neck to Read him. The chieftain lived, but his heart was failing. Swiftly Malthus insinuated a fresh memory in case someone found Claw alive, making it seem that Malthus had gone to bed an hour before Claw departed the drawing room, erasing their conversation. He shoved his hand into Claw's robe and gave his heart a small jolt to worsen it.
A noise in the kitchen made Malthus pause, listening. He heard someone opening and closing the cabinets. A kettle of water whistled.
Malthus jabbed another spell into Claw's heart, and retreated up the stairs, leaving him to die.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
DISASTER
Kissie put the tea ball into the ceramic pot just as the kettle whistled. She poured the steaming water over the tea ball and replaced the lid on the teapot to let it steep. She set the pot, a bowl of sugar, and a ti
ny pitcher of fresh goat milk on a tray to take it upstairs to Isbeth, her baby was colicky that night and keeping both of the nibari up.
In another week or two Kissie would be coming into season again, as all nibari did at three months intervals, and she knew that Aisha planned to breed her to that new stud they had purchased.
They had named him Klaudi because they thought it went nicely with Kissie. The Redhands had purchased him partly because Kissie did not like the main stud, Beolagh. Although he had sired Timerly and two others on her, she had become dissatisfied with him.
Not wanting to give offense, Kissie had never told Aisha that she had liked Beolagh just fine until they had ordered her to service Isranon. Isranon had been so gentle and considerate, both between her legs and with his fangs in her neck, that all other males had seemed clumsy and inconsiderate by comparison, which left her feeling dissatisfied with the others.
Kissie heaved a sigh and headed for the stairs. She hoped her next baby would not be as fussy as Isbeth's newest one. She also hoped that Klaudi would at least be affectionate when the time came to mate. She had heard nothing bad about his coupling from the other nibari, but neither had she heard any praise. Too often nibari studs simply did their duties and got it over with, unless trained otherwise in bedroom arts by a female master.
She pushed those concerns from her mind when she reached the hallway with the tray in one arm and a lantern in her opposite hand. The light fell upon a still form on the stairs, and she sucked in a startled breath. She turned about and left the tray on a small table in the hallway. Lifting the lantern high, Kissie went to see who was lying on the stairs. Her heart skipped a beat and leaped for her throat.
"Master Claw?"
She knelt to see him better. Blood dripped from his torn scalp, bruises purpled across the left side of his face, and he lay at an odd, twisted angle.
Kissie screamed.
* * * *
Kynyr snapped awake at the sound of Kissie's cries. He grabbed his sword, buckling the harness on as he ran. The sudden movement set his head throbbing again. He clenched his jaw against his own discomfort as a rush of adrenaline hit and focused him away from it.
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