Part 26 (1/2)
Gla.s.s was a luxury even kings seldom wasted on windows.
Nepanthe rose from a bed. Ethrian lay sleeping on a couch. ”Where is he? When can I see him?”
”Who?”
”My husband.”
”I don't understand.”
”The men who brought me to Throyes... .They said they were taking me to my husband. He sent for me. They had a letter.”
”They lied.” The woman smiled mockingly. ”Permit me. I am Fadema. The Queen of Argon.”
No ”Pleased to ”meet you” from Nepanthe. She went to the point. ”Why am I here?”
”We had to remove you from Vorgreberg. You might have embarra.s.sed us there.”
”Who is us?” ”Madame.” Another visitor entered.
”Oh!”
Trebilc.o.c.k, too, gasped.
He had never seen a Tervola, but he recognized the dress and mask. His heart redoubled its hammering. The man would discover them with his witchery....
”s.h.i.+nsan!” Nepanthe gasped. ”Again.”
The Tervola bowed slightly. ”We come again, Madame.”
”W here's my husband?””He's well.”
Nepanthe bl.u.s.tered, ”You'd better send me home. You lied to me.... I have Varthlokkur's protection, you know.”
”Indeed I do. I know exactly what you mean to him. It's the main reason we brought you here.”
Nepanthe sputtered, fussed, threatened. Her visitors ignored her.
”Madame,” said the Tervola, ”I suggest you make the best of your stay. Don't make it difficult.”
”What's happened to my husband? They told me they were taking me to him.”
”I haven't the faintest idea,” the Fadema replied.
Nepanthe produced a dagger, hurled herself at the Tervola.
He disarmed her easily. ”Fadema, move the boy elsewhere. To keep her civil.
We'll speak to you later, Madame.”
Nepanthe screamed and kicked and bit, threatened and pleaded. The Tervola held her while the Fadema dragged Ethrian away.
Michael Trebilc.o.c.k suffered several chivalrous impulses. He didn't fear the Tervola. But he did have a little common sense. It saved his life.
After the Fadema left, the Tervola said, ”Your honor and your son are our hostages.
Understand?”
”I understand. Varthlokkur and my husband....”
”Will do nothing. That's why you're my captive.”
In that he was mistaken. Varthlokkur ignored extortion, and Mocker just became more troublesome. It was in the blood.
” Your captive? Isn't this her city?”
”She seems to think so. Amusing, isn't it?” His tone grew harsh. ”One year.
Behave and you'll be free. Otherwise.... You know our reputation. Our language has no word for mercy.” He departed.
Michael waited five minutes, then crept forward to whisper to Aral.... And found Dantice dead asleep.
The idiot had slept through almost the whole thing.
”Ssst!”
Nepanthe responded to his third hiss by approaching the window fearfully.
”What? Who are you? I.... I know you.”
”From Vorgreberg. My name is Michael Trebilc.o.c.k. My friend and I followed you here.”
”Why?”
”To find out what you were up to. Those men were the same sort who killed the Marshall's wife. And your brother.”She became angry anew. He had a hard time calming her.
”Look, you're in no real danger while they think they can use you to blackmail the wizard and your husband.”
”What're you going to do?”
”I thought about bringing you out the window. But they've got your son. You probably wouldn't go....”
”You're right.”
”There's nothing I can do for you, then. I can only go home and explain what happened. Maybe the Marshall can do . something.”
Nepanthe leaned out the window. ”The rain's stopped. It's getting light.”