“Thank you, Dorin,” said Seregil.
“Very good, my lord. If you will give me a moment, I’ll see that breakfast is served.”
“No need,” Seregil replied. “I’ve a mind to eat in the kitchen today.”
Dorin looked as if Seregil had just told him he planned to dine on horse dung. “My lord, really, it will only take a moment.”
Seregil chuckled. “Don’t worry, Dorin, you’ll get used to our little eccentricities.”
The sweet aroma of baking oatcakes greeted them as Alec and Seregil entered the kitchen. Sabriel and Vhadä were at work at one of the tables. The boy was cutting up turnips and carrots; Sabriel was mixing something in a large bowl. Glancing up, she spied them by the door and gave them a surprised smile. “Good morning. Can I help you with something?”
“Just a bite to eat,” Seregil told her, pulling a stool from under the table and sitting down across from her.
“Here?” she asked as Alec sat down.
“If you don’t mind.” Alec felt a bit uncomfortable, as if they were unexpected guests in someone else’s home.
“Why, of course not, I’ve just never heard of such a thing! Boo—Vhadä, go and fetch the new bread from the oven. It should be done by now. And that hunk of bacon from the cold room. You’ll have some tea, won’t you?”
“Yes, please,” said Alec.
“I’ll just go and fetch a proper pot.”
Seregil pointed to a stout brown-glazed teapot on the mantelpiece. “Nothing wrong with that one.”
The woman gave him a puzzled look, then took it down, spooned tea leaves into it from a canister, lifted the steaming copper kettle from its hook over the fire, and filled the pot.
“Where do you get your tea?” Seregil asked.
Sabriel set the pot on the table in front of them and pulled a knitted cozy over it to keep the heat in. “From Aurënen, now. Before, it was shipped in from Plenimar.”
“They grow tea in Plenimar?” Alec said, surprised. “I assumed they got it by way of Virésse.”
Sabriel shrugged. “All I know’s that the chests used to be marked PLENIMAR and now they’re marked AURËNEN.”
“A change for the better, I hope,” said Seregil.
Sabriel gave them a fond look. “A lot of things are these days.”
Vhadä came in with the bread and a small haunch of bacon hanging from a loop of string. “Here you are, Sabriel.” He placed the bread and bacon on the table and looked at her expectantly. “Have you shown them yet?”
“Hush, child, and mind your manners,” she warned, and set about cutting thick slices of bacon to fry.
“Shown us what?” asked Seregil.
The cook hesitated, then set the knife aside. “I don’t suppose there’s any danger in it now.” Folding her hands against her apron, she closed her eyes and the mixing bowl rose off the table by itself, then settled back again with a soft thump.
“You’re a wizard?” said Alec.
“Oh, no, nothing so powerful, my—Alec, that is. If I was I wouldn’t have lived all those years with a collar around my neck.” Her hand stole to the high neck of her gown, which covered the worn-in scar of metal on flesh. “No, I can do a little trick here and there. Moving small things, mostly, but I can sometimes light the kindling when there’s no flint handy.”
“Did the man who enslaved you know?” asked Seregil.
“By the Light, no! During the Dark Times, before Kouros was rescued, the Plenimarans would kill any ’faie with so much as a hint of kitchen magic about them. Usually it was children, who didn’t know enough to be careful and got caught. Sometimes, though, a necromancer would come through and check households who paid him to ferret out any ’faie with the powers. I was lucky; he never came here. When one was found, though, we were all dragged off to the place of execution and made to watch.” She wiped her eyes on a corner of her apron, then took a skillet off a hook, threw in the bacon, and set it to fry on a grate over the hearth. Poking the strips straight with a fork, she shook her head and said softly, “It was horrible, what they did to them.”
“Weren’t any of them strong enough to fight back?” asked Alec.
“That sort didn’t end up as slaves.”
“I suppose not. I’m sorry.”
She looked back at him. “Nothing to be sorry for, my dear. That’s all behind us now, thanks to Princess Klia and those like her. Like you two, as well, with all your kindness. It truly is a new day for Kouros.”
“Are there many others with magic?” asked Seregil.
“I don’t know. It was the sort of thing you didn’t share with anyone. Knowing and not telling was as bad as having the magic yourself.”
“I suppose so.”
As soon as the bacon was crisp she heaped four plates with it, oatcakes laced with honey, and fresh bread spread thickly with butter. Alec entertained them with tales of Rhíminee while they all ate together.
When they were through, Seregil and Alec carried heavily laden trays up for Thero and Sedge.
“How are you feeling today, Captain?” Alec asked as Sedge eagerly set upon the hot food.
“Better than last night,” he replied. “Been talking with Lord Thero here. Reckon I owe you all an apology for how I acted.”
Micum came in just then, pulled over a chair, and sat down by the bed. “Not a bit, after what you’ve been through.”
“My family—can I go to them? My poor wife must be beside herself with worry.”
“We’ll send word to her today,” Seregil promised. “Commander Klia should be here soon and you’ll need to answer her questions, and Thero’s.” He turned to the wizard. “Why not let the man eat and rest until Klia gets here, so he doesn’t have to go over everything twice?”
Thero began to say something impatient, then stopped. “I suppose another hour or two won’t make any difference.”
Within the hour Vhadä came streaking in with news of a great column of riders and wagons coming their way. Leaving Sedge in Micum’s care, Alec, Seregil, and Thero went out to meet Klia. The sun was shining brightly, glinting off helms and harnesses as Klia and her soldiers came up the road at a canter.
Klia led the column in full uniform; Mika, dressed for riding in a tunic, breeches, and shiny new boots, rode beside her on a pony Klia had given him in Rhíminee. Zella rode just behind, mounted on a spirited Kouros black. As they came to the house, a grizzled woman Alec recognized as Captain Brescia, one of Klia’s most trusted officers, took over the column, leading the riders up into the pasture beyond.
Mika, Klia, and Lady Zella rode up to meet Alec and the others. Mika slid off his pony’s back and ran to Thero. Taking his hand to examine the still-visible stripes of the attack, he exclaimed, “Who hurt you, Master?”
Klia joined them and touched Thero’s cheek in concern. “Yes, what have you been up to?”
“A cleansing of Captain Sedge had a few unexpected turns,” Thero told them. “It’s nothing to worry about. I’m fine, and so is he.”
“The captain is in his right mind again,” Alec added. “We waited for you before we questioned him.”
“Did you get anything else useful out of Karis?” asked Seregil.
Klia shook her head. “No. The poor man hanged himself in his cell that night, with the blanket I insisted he be given. I meant to be kind. Instead I handed him the instrument of his own destruction.”
Thero took her hand. “His fear was so great, he’d probably have found a way no matter what. The thought of returning to Menosi was too much for him.”
Zella joined them and dismounted. “I trust all is ready, my lords? By the Light, Lord Thero!”
“I’m quite all right,” Thero assured her. “Would you mind watching Mika for me? Ah, and here’s a friend for you,” he added as Vhadä appeared shyly in the doorway. “Vhadä, would you show Mika the pond? We’re going to interview Captain Sedge.”
The boys grinned at each other and took off running for the pond, Vhadä already e
xtolling its features.
“Then you were able to help him?” asked Zella. “Illior must have looked kindly on him.”
“Indeed, and me, as well,” he replied.
Alec and the others led Klia up to Sedge’s room.
They found him playing cards with Micum, laughing together as if they were old friends. Alec smiled; Micum often had that effect on people. The captain was dressed in unfamiliar clothing of Plenimaran cut, no doubt left by the previous inhabitants.
At the sight of Klia’s uniform and golden gorget he jumped to his feet and pressed his fist to his heart. “Highness, I am yours to command!”
“Thank you, Captain. I’m glad to find you looking so well.”
Sedge dropped his fist but remained standing at attention. “I have these kind men to thank for that, Highness. Lord Thero, I believe my memory’s improved, now that I’m not in fear for my life.”
Klia took a chair by the window and motioned for the others to sit. “At ease, Captain. Please, sit down.”
Sedge hesitated, then settled stiffly on the edge of the bed.
“Now, I need a full report of what happened that night, or at least what you’ve remembered,” Klia told him, getting down to business.
“I’ll do the best I can, Highness. Most of it’s a blur, still. Phania and I were talking to the guards outside Governor Toneus’s room, he and the lady having turned in for the night. There was no sign of any strangers about; in fact, we hadn’t seen so much as a servant for some time. It must have been around midnight when we heard the screams.” He was pale now, and his fists were clenched on his knees.
“Who was screaming?” asked Klia.
“It came from inside the room, Highness, so it could only have been the governor and his lady. I remember the lieutenant yelling for help. The door was locked and the governor had the only key, so I had to kick it down. It took some doing and the screaming stopped before I got it open but when I did—” He passed a shaking hand across his eyes. “I just got a glimpse of—of what was left of them when I heard Phania cry out behind me. I turned and saw her disappear into thin air, or rather into some kind of deeper darkness there in the corridor. She was just—gone. Then something came out of the darkness at me.” He shuddered and sat there, staring down at his hands.
“What came at you?” Thero asked quietly. “It’s important that you tell us everything.”
“I can’t tell you that, my lord, because I don’t remember.”
“Nothing that looked like a man in a dark cloak?”
“I’m sorry, I just don’t know. After that it’s all confused until I woke up last night. It was like I was caught in a bad dream and couldn’t wake up. All I remember is blood, Highness, and being visited by awful—I don’t know what to call them. Big smoky things with yellow eyes like a cat’s and they meant to finish the job. And that’s all I can tell you. I swear to it.”
“Smoke? I’d like to touch your mind again,” said Thero. “Now that you’re clearheaded, there might be something more I could bring out.”
Sedge nodded and Thero stood and placed his fingers on the man’s temples. After a moment he grimaced, then nodded to himself and withdrew his hands. “Something definitely emerged from some sort of unnatural portal, and I believe we encountered it last night.” He shook his head. “This is beyond my knowledge, but it most certainly was not a dra’gorgos. I hesitate to use the term, but for want of a better word, it may in fact have been some sort of demon.”
Alec instinctively made a warding sign and noticed that Seregil did the same.
“That only adds to the confusion,” said Seregil. “I mean, you seem certain that it was a dra’gorgos that Karis saw that night, yet you’re saying what Sedge found in the governor’s chamber was something else?”
“Yes.”
“Karis?” Sedge brightened at that. “He’s a good lad. I’m glad he escaped that night.”
No one disabused him of that idea, and Alec guessed it wasn’t time to burden the man with another death in his condition.
“So the governor and his lady were killed by a demon, rather than a dra’gorgos?” he asked. Sedge was watching them with renewed fear. “You’re saying I had a demon in me? Why didn’t it tear me to pieces, as well?”
“Only the demon would know that, if such creatures think and reason,” Thero replied. “Really, you know as much as we do at this point. Perhaps it was curious.”
“Have you ever heard of a necromancer who could control demons?” asked Micum.
“There are ancient tales, but I haven’t heard of one in my lifetime.”
“Assuming that this necromancer can, then maybe he wanted to make a very definite statement,” said Seregil. “Such as, ‘Try and take this island from Plenimar and I’ll slaughter anyone you send to rule in the nastiest possible way.’ ”
Thero gave Klia a stricken look as the enormity of the possibility became clear. “You’re in danger here, more than I guessed!”
“Only if I sleep in the old palace, apparently,” she replied calmly. “Otherwise, the necromancer could have killed Toneus much sooner, down in Deep Harbor, where there are more people around to get that message.”
“She has a point, Thero,” said Seregil. “For that matter, if the whole point was to terrorize, why not leave Lady Seria alive to tell the tale?”
“We aren’t going to find any answers here.” Klia placed a hand on Sedge’s shoulder. “I’m sorry to say this, Captain, but I need you to accompany me to Menosi today and show us exactly where you saw these things. Once you’ve done that, you are free to go back to your family.”
The captain went a little pale, but he bravely saluted her again. “I serve you and the Queen, Highness. If you judge me fit, I’d prefer to take up my place again.”
“I have plenty of horses to spare,” said Seregil, going to the door. “I don’t know if the house has an armory or not. I’ll go check with Dorin.”
“Where is my baggage?” Thero asked Klia.
“Somewhere in the wagons.”
“I’ll need to find it before we leave.”
“I’m sure the wagoneers can help you,” she replied.
“Good. I’ll go see to that while you make your final preparations.”
Thero went to his room and took the brass container holding the chalk out from behind his pillow, then went downstairs, where he found Mika sitting on a carved bench in the front hall, swinging his legs impatiently. Lady Zella was chatting with the housekeeper.
“Come along, Mika,” Thero said, striding for the door. “I have something new to show you.”
The boy brightened considerably as he trotted along at his side.
Thero found his horse saddled and ready in the courtyard beside Mika’s pony, and together they rode up to where the wagons were drawn up in the nearby pasture.
Thero’s trunks were located and he and Mika climbed up into the wagon to kneel beside a large iron-bound box, which held the equipment Thero had brought. Among the carefully packed instruments and spell ingredients were several crystal boxes of varying sizes. Selecting one of the smaller ones, he took the lump of blue chalk from the jar and placed it inside the crystal box.
“This is a very important spell,” he told the boy. He showed him the painted symbol on the chalk. “A very evil spirit came out of Captain Sedge during a cleansing ritual. That’s what made these marks you see on my hands and face. It struck me all over, in fact, and even though I had taken precautions, it still hurt a lot and was very dangerous. If I hadn’t known how to capture and seal the spirit in this chalk, it would probably have killed me.”
“Master!”
Taking advantage of the boy’s fear for him, Thero continued. “You know how I’m always telling you not to attempt to do things you haven’t been fully instructed in? It’s because of this very sort of thing. I’m not an expert in demon binding, and it was only luck that I’d thought to take the particular precautions that I did. I might just as easily have been k
illed or possessed, and our friends with me. Do you understand what I’m telling you?”
“I have to be careful because what I think I’m doing right might not be?”
“That’s right. We walk a thin line between bravery and death, we wizards. Don’t ever forget that.”
“I won’t, Master Thero.”
“Now, watch what I do, for this is a very important and useful spell.” Thero placed the lid on the crystal box and ran his finger around the circle where lid and box met. “Arturvia descorim. That means ‘seal forever’ in our language and seals the box completely. See how it’s become one solid piece? This is what you do with dangerous objects. The vaults under the Orëska House have shelves and shelves of these, containing all sorts of dreadful things.”
“Can it be opened again?”
“Oh, yes, but that’s a different spell and you’ll seldom want to use it.” He took out a tiny crystal box and handed it to Mika. “You try. The spell words are arturvia descorim, and while you say them you must concentrate your power through your fingertip and picture that it’s a stick of melted sealing wax that you’re using to seal the box.”
As he’d expected, Mika managed it on the first try, just as Thero had when Nysander taught him that spell.
ZELLA and Seregil were waiting for them in the great hall when Alec and the others came down with Sedge.
Seregil handed Sedge a sheathed long sword and belt that Dorin had found in a closet. “There you are, my friend. Let’s just hope you have no need of it.”
“Are you pleased with your estate, my lords?” Zella asked as they walked out to where the grooms held their horses.
“Very pleased, my lady,” Alec replied, taking Windrunner’s reins from a groom.
“Yes,” Seregil agreed. “The house is remarkable, and the herds superb!”
Zella glanced curiously at the bows Alec and Micum carried. “Are you intending to hunt along the way?”
“You never know,” Alec replied, mounting and laying the Black Radly across his saddlebow. The fact was, he felt safer with it, not knowing what they were facing. “Is there much game?”