Part 32 (2/2)
Keirith nodded. He pushed himself into a sitting position, but he had to allow Malaq to spoon the broth into his mouth. It was then he realized he was in Malaq's bedchamber.
”How did I get here?”
”The guards brought you. You collapsed in Xevhan's chamber. That was this morning.”
Judging from the flickering oil lamps, it must be evening. A whole day-lost.
”I've been asleep?”
”Yes.”
”You've been here with me?”
”Yes. Finish your broth.”
”The whole time?”
”Stop talking. You're making a mess.”
”You sound like my mam.”
Malaq lowered the spoon. ”Did you dribble broth on her, too?”
”I meant the scolding.”
”I should do more than scold you. I should beat you. I may yet decide to do so. But not until you finish your broth.”
Keirith obeyed, swallowing one spoonful after another. And when he had finished, he said, ”I went to Xevhan because of something I saw at the sacrifice.”
By the time he finished describing his vision at the temple, he was s.h.i.+vering uncontrollably. Malaq opened a wooden chest-the only piece of furniture in the chamber-removed a blanket, and draped it around his shoulders. The scratchy wool comforted him.
”I had to find out if my father was safe.”
Malaq didn't ask why he had waited until now to tell him. He simply nodded.
”I tried to find my father-through vision-but I couldn't. So I went to Xevhan.”
He frowned, recalling his euphoria. Xevhan must have slipped the qiij into his drink. What a fool not to have realized.
”I asked him to give me qiij.”
”I know.”
”He told you?”
”He didn't have to. I know the signs.”
No questions, no recriminations, just a great weariness in his voice that added to Keirith's guilt. He told Malaq how Xevhan had drugged him. It was hard to describe the vision with those sad, dark eyes watching him, but he did. When he finished, Malaq nodded again.
”It was Xevhan,” Keirith blurted out. Although they were speaking the tribal tongue, he instinctively lowered his voice. ”I recognized the ring on his finger.”
”I see.”
”Nay, you don't. It was Xevhan who struck you down.”
”I understand.”
”What are you going to do?”
”Nothing.”
”But you have to. He's dangerous. He wants you dead.”
”I doubt it. He would derive much more satisfaction from my disgrace than my death. The fact that I died in your vision is probably due more to your concern about your father than to any actual threat I face. Even the words were the same, were they not?”
Keirith nodded, unconvinced.
”The end of the vision interests me. With the adders streaming across the ground and the earth collapsing. Did you know there was another tremor today?”
Keirith searched his memory, but everything was jumbled up in his mind.
”You cried out in your sleep. Something about the adders. A few moments later, the Qepo rushed in to tell me they were restless. And then the earth shook. A small tremor. It did no damage. But I wondered if you felt it-or felt the adders' fear as you did that first time.”
”I don't remember. I'm sorry.”
”It doesn't matter.” The Pajhit smiled, his expression so similar to the one in the vision that Keirith winced. ”You should rest. We'll talk more in the morning.”
”But Xevhan . . .”
”Let me worry about Xevhan.”
”But you won't!”
”Of more concern to me is the danger you may be in. You'll have to explain the vision to Xevhan. Not the part about him killing me. Make up something else. Don't let him know you told me about it. Tell him I was furious at you for taking the qiij. Stick to the story Xevhan planned, that you took it without his permission. It's a flimsy excuse, but it will have to do. Pretend to be worried that your behavior has compromised further opportunities to meet. Play the innocent. You can do that, can't you?”
Keirith felt himself flus.h.i.+ng under that keen-eyed gaze. ”He won't believe me.”
”But he'll wonder. If he believes you're eager to learn from him-that you'll teach him instead of me-he might not move against you. And that will buy us a little more time.”
”Us.” As many times as he had disobeyed, Malaq had forgiven and protected him. He had given up his bed, nursed him as tenderly as a mother. Keirith wanted to believe it was just an act, a ploy to keep his loyalty, but instinct told him he could trust this man.
”Why are you protecting me?”
”I'm beginning to wonder that myself,” Malaq replied with a rueful smile. ”Get some sleep.”
”But where will you sleep?”
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