Imryne, of House Melrae: Vandree's Cold Mistress

[aithne]

(The Lady Of Pain Dramatis Personae)





Imryne, of House Melrae
Book Two: The Lady Of Pain

Chapter Three: Vandree's Cold Mistress


The desire of thy furious embraces
     Is more than the wisdom of years,
On the blossom though blood lie in traces,
     Though the foliage be sodden with tears.
For the lords in whose keeping the door is
     That opens on all who draw breath
Gave the cypress to love, my Dolores,
     The myrtle to death.

--Swinburne, Dolores




(Imryne, on the surface)

There was a sudden cold space in the bed where Jevan had been.

Imryne woke to a feeling of rustling movement, of a sensation of motion as Jevan blurred out of the room and then, from the sound of things, right out of the house. She was sleeping facing Tar, Maya nestled between her mothers, and Jevan had until a moment before been a solid warmth against her back. Confused, Imryne climbed out of bed and pulled on a robe against the chill of the morning.

They had been switching to being awake during the day, and so it was three hours until dawn and they had retired a few hours before. As Imryne walked through the front door of the house, she saw a strange sight. Jevan, stark naked as he had gone to sleep, had someone held by the throat against the trunk of a tree, whispering angrily. It was a human female, it looked like, wearing worn work clothing.

Imryne walked closer, looking around to make sure that there weren't any more uninvited guests around. She sucked in her breath as the last muzziness of sleep left her and she recognized the woman Jevan had pinned to the tree.

It was Quarra, the human female that had almost ruined the plan to insert Filraen into House Xalyth, during the first slave market Imryne had ever run. What was she doing here? Imryne came level with Jevan and gave him a questioning look.

"She was in our room. I nearly killed her before I recognized her," Jevan growled.

"I almost think you should have," Imryne said sourly. "What are you doing here, Quarra or Samantha or whatever name you're going by at the moment?"

"I came--to warn you--" the human stammered between gasps for breath.

Imryne gave Jevan a look. "Let her breathe, love. About what, and couldn't you have just knocked?"

Jevan relaxed his grip on Quarra, and she gasped and coughed. Then she dug into the bag she wore at her side and brought out several folded papers, handing them to Imryne. "I suppose I could have," she said thoughtfully.

Imryne scowled and opened the papers, then blinked. There were drawings of Tar on these pages, with hair, without hair. There was a bounty on her head; whether it would be considered a fortune or not Imryne had no idea, but the number certainly seemed to be large. "Where did you get these?" she asked sharply.

"In a human town," Quarra said.

"Circulated by...?"

The human shrugged. "I don't know, they were posted. I thought they looked familiar. It says to contact Nym at the Water's Edge bar in Vrinn."

The hairs on the back on Imryne's neck rose. Quarra had never met Tar. How would she have known what she looked like, and that she was even connected with Imryne? How had she known to come here? She took a breath, looking down at the papers in her hand. "How far away is that?"

"Less than a day."

"And how did you manage to find us?" Imryne asked.

"Ryld sent me," Quarra said. "Whoever that is, exactly."

Ryld. Of course. "It's a very long story. Did Ryld say something to you?"

"I saw your house in a dream, and that the woman on the papers would be here. And the words Tell them Ryld sent you."

Imryne's heart twisted. She had not been having the dreams that she often did lately, the dreams that Ryld would send her, her only real contact with the son she loved to distraction. "Well, you got lucky that Jevan recognized you," she said dryly.

"And he neglected his weapons," Quarra said and flashed a quick, nervous smile. "But yes, I did. Ryld said something else. Tell them they are watching me and who I talk to."

"Ah. I see. Which was why he sent you," Imryne said.

"Could be." The human tilted her head. She was well-kept now, had gained some weight, and her hair, though rumpled and damp with sweat, was much more glossy than Imryne remembered. Life on the surface was agreeing with their little spy. "He sends you dreams?" Quarra asked.

"He used to, on occasion."

Quarra looked like she wanted to ask more, but decided against it. "Sounds like he wants to more, but can't. Sorry for startling you, but it seemed urgent."

"It is, yes. Do you need anything? Breakfast?" Imryne asked.

She shook her head. "No, you gave me enough when you let me go, and I should be heading back. I can be back after dawn if I run most of the way."

"All right. Thank you for the warning. It's very much appreciated."

Quarra nodded and smiled briefly at Jevan. Then she took off into the night, the way she had presumably come from. When she was gone, Jevan said, "Tar. It has to be Telenna, thinking she escaped to the surface. For them to doing it now means something changed down below."

"I wonder if something happened with Ilmra?" Imryne mused. "I haven't gotten any
messages from my mother, so whatever it is, it's probably quiet so far. But they know she's alive." She shook her head. "Too much we don't know. This Nym person seems to me too much like a trap."

"But he could provide answers," Jevan pointed out.

It was an excellent point. "He could, but we'd have to be careful. He's an agent of Telenna, which means they're probably watching him."

"We don't have to look like us," he suggested.

She nodded sharply. "True enough. We need to talk to him, at least. Maybe make him quietly disappear."

Jevan was looking thoughtful. Also a little cold, in the pre-dawn chill; he had goosebumps all over his skin, among other things that were a bit shriveled with the cold. "We have a day. I know where the city is, and its about four hours. Three, if we run. Probably two with me flying and carrying you."

"We'll get there just before sunrise. Probably the best thing, really," Imryne said. She stepped over to him and slid an arm around him, pulling him close to share her warmth. The temperature rarely changed in Fanaedar, and it was always humid and warm. "We should go put some clothes on, and tell Tar and Ilfryn where we're going.

"They can protect themselves, the children, and the rest," he said. "And we can find out what happened to make them think Tar is still alive."

She took a step and pulled him beside her, waking back towards the house. "We should probably get ready to head back down. As much as I don't like the idea, we may need to go back early."

"We probably should. Tonight after we get back." He sounded almost as reluctant as Imryne felt. They went inside to talk to Ilfryn and Tar, who handed Imryne Maya as soon as they came back in. Maya had been fussing, and when Imryne held her she quieted, reaching for Imryne's face. Absently, she pushed the infant's hands with their small, sharp fingernails away from her face.

After Imryne and Jevan had briefed the other two, and shown them the parchments with the worrying drawings on them, they got dressed and ready to go to Vrinn. Ilfryn gave them both enchantments to make them look human, and it was very disturbing to Imryne to see such pale skin on her arms when she reached for things. Ilfryn also armed Imryne with some enchantments to help her see well in the daylight. Though her eyes were adjusting, she still squinted during the day.

It took them two hours to fly to Vrinn, a chilly flight over the lake most of the way. They landed just before dawn on the outskirts of a small human settlement that had roads fanning away from it and a dock where boats creaked and splashed on the lake side. "Are our clothes all right?" Imryne asked, worried. She glanced around. She had never been in a settlement of free humans before. In fact, she had only rarely seen a free human in her life. Humans did not worship Ellistraee, and if they were in Fanaedar it was as slaves.

"They're fine," Jevan said. It was only a few minutes' walk from where they had landed to a bar by the dock with a sign over the door that depicted a lake shore, blue wavy lines on one side and green trees on the other.

"That's it," Jevan said. It was a small place, but it was neatly kept despite wear around the edges. The door was open, and inside there were about ten tables for eating at, a long bar running down the side of the room, and stairs upward. From the smell, the door at the back of the room led to a kitchen.

There was a heavy female human behind the bar, swiping at it with a wet rag. She looked up at them. "Need a room?" she asked.

"We're looking for someone staying here. Name's Nym," Imryne said. "There were papers, saying he could be found here?" They had decided on the way over that they would pose as humans who wanted to turn Tar in for the reward.

"Nym does stay here, but he should, its his place," the woman said, frowning at the two of them. "Papers you say? What kind of papers? Bounties?"

Imryne nodded vigorously. She could speak the tongue these humans did, but she was afraid she had a heavy accent. She hoped it wouldn't be too out of place. "The bounties, yes, for the drow woman."

"Hang on, I will get him." She set the rag down and retreated through the door that all the interesting smells were coming out of, and returned with a small human with a heavy limp in tow. "This is Nym."

Nym nodded at them, and gestured at a table. Imryne and Jevan say, and then Nym joined them. "So seen someone, or got someone?" His accent was odd. Something about it was almost like the burr that the dwarves had in their voices.

Imryne took a shaky breath, wanting to appear nervous. "I think we saw the girl, the one on the posters."

"The drow girl?" Nym asked.

There were others? "Yes, her. She answered the general description, and she was alone as far as I could tell, not part of a raiding group."

He smiled, and with fascination Imryne saw that he had several broken teeth. He set a gold piece down on the table between them. "Tell me what you know and if leads to her, you get ten more. Get her yourself, and it's a thousand."

She frowned. "For a drow, she seemed pretty harmless...what's going to happen to her if we lead you to her?"

"I assume she dies." Nym shrugged. "But I have learned not to ask a lot of questions of the drow."

"Oh, it's the drow that want her, then? A criminal of some kind, maybe." Imryne struggled to remember to remain in the mindset of the human she was supposed to be. It was hard, facing this human male. She tried not to look at his neck, which seemed strangely bare. She had so rarely seen a human without a collar on.

"Probably. Runaway female from some house that wants her back, maybe. Ellistraee cleric possibly, on the run on the surface."

She leaned forward a little. "Oh. I, well...a thousand, if we bring her in, did you say?"

"Yep, want to do it yourself?"

Imryne pursed her lips. "Maybe. We did talk to her a little."

Nym looked interested. "Dead is fine. Alive is better. She have anything to say about why they are after her?"

"She didn't really say anything about being chased, I didn't see the posters until after she'd gone. But I know what direction she went in."

He sat back, and gave them that broken-toothed smile again. "All yours if you want, but if you don't want, I will call them and get them to find her."

"If you call them, would they want to talk to us first?" Jevan asked.

Nym shrugged. "Likely."

"Maybe we should call them," Imryne said. "The girl looked harmless, but maybe she's not. I don't want to get killed, even for that much money."

"She could be a cleric, then it might get messy," Jevan said. "I think I agree. Why don't you call them? How long do we have to wait for them to show?"

"Few hours, usually," the male said. "Not much longer."

Imryne nodded. "Call them, then. We can wait that long."

"Room upstairs for you if you need the rest. Breakfast in an hour if you are hungry." Nym got up abruptly and limped across the room, disappearing through the kitchen door. Imryne got up, jerking her head at the door. She didn't want to be inside, if she could help it. This stank of a trap.

They walked out to the dock, past the creaking boats to the end, and sat on the tar-sealed wood. The sun was beginning to come up, changing the sky from grey through all of the colors of blue that Imryne had never imagined. "I don't think that guy is what he looks like, even if he does own that bar," she said quietly as they sat down, dangling their feet over the lake.

Jevan looked down at the water, which was dark green below them. Imryne, watching him, though he looked almost as strange as a human as he did as a drow. "Think so. I don't think he knows all that much. This way we can maybe recognize a face or a house symbol. And you are right, he could be setting a trap."

She snorted. "That's the hope. And could be setting a trap? I think it's almost a certainty."

"Probably, but we can wait and tell them a story. Hopefully that will get us what we need to know. It's probably Telenna but I want to know for certain."

Imryne nodded, and reached over to take Jevan's hand. She cradled his fingers in hers, feeling the reassuring warmth of his flesh. "I think it's very likely. We may not get much more than that, but at least we can get confirmation."

"Let's get something to eat, not at his place, and we can come back."

She blinked, and the her stomach growled. "We forgot to eat before we left, didn't we? With Quarra appearing in our bedroom, I was a bit rattled."

"That was a bit unnerving," he said with a wry grin. "She is probably back by now, or close to it. I assume she was coming here, anyway."

"We'll have to keep our eyes open for her," Imryne said, then let go of Jevan's hand and got to her feet. They wandered into town and found a bakery that was just opening for business, and sold them some rolls hot out of the oven and some aged cheese that was like nothing Imryne had ever eaten before. "It tastes like socks," she said, bewildered. "People like this?"

"Sheep's milk cheese," Jevan said, amused. "I'm fond of it myself."

She took another bite, chewed contemplatively. "Socks," she said. "Wet socks."

"Hey, I don't complain about the three thousand ways you people torture innocent fungus," Jevan said, grinning.

"I'm still eating it," she pointed out. "Even though it tastes like socks. Tasty socks. It's made from sheep, you said?"

"Sheep's milk left to spoil, then stuck in dry caves, rolled in ashes, and left to grow a special kind of mold that gives it its flavor," Jevan said. "And I've seen what drow do with the tough bits of rothe, which I will note is pretty much all of a rothe, so don't make that face at me."

Imryne looked down at her roll and her cheese, then picked the cheese off of the roll and stuck it on top of Jevan's. "You can have it. The bread's good."

He laughed, and they settled down to watch the people who were beginning to come and go from town. They caught sight of Quarra coming in with the morning vegetables, and followed her to the docks and to a private house. She climbed into a first-floor window, and a few minutes later they saw her through another window, changed into clothes that looked very much like they belonged to the lady of the house.

"It's been over a year since the last we saw her, hasn't it?" Imryne murmured. "A surface year?"

Jevan nodded. "Look," he muttered. Quarra had gone upstairs and then come down again, carrying a child a bit older than Maya, who she brought to the back porch of the house. She put the child to her breast and began to feed it, and Imryne smiled.

"Looks like she found somewhere to settle," she murmured. "Let's go. The drow are probably here."

Back at the Water's Edge, Nym was back and looking sweaty. "Are they here?" Imryne asked.

"Yes, over there." He pointed at two people in the back, cloaked heavily despite the fact that the day was going to be warm. "Make sure you tell the truth as you know it. She hates it when people lie. And she seems to know when you are." He swallowed. Evidently, he had experience with lying to whoever the drow was."

Imryne thanked him and she and Jevan approached the table in the back. One pulled his hood back as they approached, and Imryne saw the dark purple throat-band of a weaponsmaster, threaded with silver. The face was familiar; it was a male named Balgos, who was Vandree Thalra's personal bodyguard. He had a thin nose, the same nose that almost all of the Vandree had.

"You were the ones wanting to know about the drow girl?" she asked Balgos.

"We are, sit," Balgos said curtly. "Speak to her, and only the female talks."

Thalra did not pull her hood down, but her voice was unmistakable. "You saw this woman?"

"The one in the posters, yes," Imryne said.

"How long ago?" Thalra asked.

"A few hours." It was truth enough.

"Where?"

"North of here a ways," Imryne said, and as she did she felt Jevan shift, dropping a hand to one of the daggers he was wearing in place of swords.

Thalra was sitting very straight. "How far? And as exact as you can."

Defiant, Imryne said, "Not until you tell me what's going to happen to her."

There was a small space of silence. "You're human, I will tolerate your insolence. She is needed to destroy a house. Internal politics. Suffice it to say, woman, that she will live. I need her."

Imryne could say nothing more without either lying or compromising those she loved. She glanced at Jevan and gave him just the barest nod.

Jevan--

Exploded.

He flipped the table up and into Balgos, and his dagger went unerringly into Thalra's throat. She surged upward and then fell over backward, her chair overturning. Balgos's sword seemed to leap from its sheath and into Jevan's hand, and from there unerringly found a home in Balgos's heart.

The dagger disappeared from Thalra's throat and Imryne could barely follow the blue that was Jevan as he threw that dagger at Nym, catching the human in the eye. Then Jevan was on and over the bar, and his other dagger slit the throat of the woman behind the bar.

Silence.

Then, one after the other, four bodies hit the floor. The thumping and clattering of furniture subsided into silence. Jevan stood on the bar and for a moment Imryne could see something pass across his face that she was hesitant to name, a flash of darkness that was there and then gone.

Imryne breathed out. "The bodies need to disappear. Quickly."

Jevan jumped down from the bar, boots hitting hard on the wood floor. "I know, there has to be a cellar." They searched until they found the trap door behind the bar and dragged the bodies in, then cleaned up the blood as best they could, righted the furniture, and slipped out the back door. They walked to the north gate and into the forest. Imryne sent a message spell to Quarra, saying, A warning for a warning. This town is about to be overrun by the drow. Get out, now.

And then Jevan was flying, holding Imryne as effortlessly as she would pick up Lesrak. She had probably doomed Vrinn, she thought grimly to herself. Vandree, once Thalra's body was found, would not hesitate to wipe the town from the face of the surface, enslave the people and burn the buildings and kill all who would not make useful slaves.

"What do you think will happen now?" Jevan asked.

She shook herself out of her reverie. "The Vandree, when they realize Thalra and Balgos are missing, will come in, find them, and probably slaughter everyone in town. If Thalra told anyone else what she was up to, they'll assume Tar is in the area and start searching intensely for her. As for what happens below...any number of things. Everything hinges on Thalra's relationship with her mother, really, and who will be taking her place. But we know something we didn't before. Vandree knows Tar is alive, and somehow has proof to pin it on someone--who might or might not be the house that destroyed Hune."

"Tar is only useful to destroy Telenna," Jevan said. "So why is Vandree trying to kill them off?"

"Telenna's probably up to something, and we know they're allied with Kilsek. Destroying Telenna weakens Kilsek," she said. Then she remembered Thalra and Elerra, the somewhat desperate look on Thalra's face. "Or maybe it's personal. Either way, we can blame it on Telenna."

Jevan's arms tightened around her, and she tucked her face into the place where his neck met his shoulder. "This is dangerous, but if we can contact Vandree and say we have her and will bring her to the next meeting, Telenna will fall. The unknown is what happens to Tar. Vandree could get suspicious, though, if we just show up with Tar in tow."

"She'd have to play the prisoner. Like we'd tracked her down ourselves and captured her," Imryne mused. "But how would we explain how we knew that Vandree wanted her? Too bad I wasn't friends with Thalra, that would have explained it. Maybe I simply heard a rumor that Vandree was after the last daughter of a dead house. Hm, no, that won't dig."

"The other option is that Tar goes alone. Knocks on the door of Vandree and says, you were looking for me?"

Imryne stiffened. "I want to say no to that. I really, really do."

Jevan shook his head. "I don't like it either but I am tossing out all options."

"Without it being known by Vandree that she's under Melrae's eye as well as theirs, she's a lot more likely to die. This is going to be dangerous either way. Maybe, when we get back, Mother will have a some information I can use."

He nodded, and they passed the rest of the flight back in silence. Once they got back, they pulled Tar and Ilfryn aside and told them the whole story, leaving nothing out, including the deaths and who the contact had been. "It protects Melrae if I go alone," Tar said. "And now if you introduce me to get Telenna, Vandree will be suspicious."

"I know, but--" Imryne shook her head. "We know Vandree would keep you alive until you weren't useful to them any more. But afterwards..."

"Then I will need an escape out if they want to kill me. What use is my death to them, though, after Telenna is gone?"

"It's not so much that your death would be of use as that your life might turn out to be inconvenient," Imryne said grimly. "Though a single female does not a house make, generally. We can work on something that will let you escape, if need be. I'm also worried that if Telenna gets wind of this beforehand, they may attack Vandree."

Jevan shook his head. "They might, but if the alliance holds they will be destroyed. If it doesn't hold for some reason, Telenna could possibly wipe them out. Which puts a weakened Arabani into third and Telenna could wipe them out as well. Making them third."

"Might work for Telenna, but it might also cost Tar's life," Imryne said.

He glanced anxiously at Tar, who had her fingers laced together, thinking hard. "I don't like any of these options, but we will see what happens, and what we have to do to keep both Tar and Melrae alive."

"First is to go back down. Jevan, your parents can protect themselves if the drow come here, yes?" Imryne asked.

"Mother has great power with Ellistraee. Father taught me to fight." He smiled briefly. "They can protect themselves if they know it's coming."

"It very likely is. Let them know, and we can get the children ready to go. As much as I don't want to cut our visit short, we need to leave." She reached out to take Ilfryn's hand. "Door spells today." Ilfryn grimaced in response, leaned over to kiss her, and then went to set up the spells.

Jevan went to tell his parents what was going on, and they came back with him as they started to pack, Imryne putting Maya in a makeshift sling so she could have both hands free to help. Tar went to round up the children, who were playing by the lake with Zesstra. There were moans and sulking from Lesrak and Faeryl, and Challay was looking anxious. She was old enough to be able to read the looks on her parents' faces and know that they meant that something difficult had just happened.

Nendra and Dantrag said their goodbyes, telling them that they loved them all and that they would be fine. Surprisingly, Dantrag even seemed to mean it, Jevan's stern-faced father having been worn down by the children and by Tar, who had been actively trying to make sure that Dantrag felt fondly towards the parents of his first grandchild.

They finished packing and took the walk to the stone-surrounded place where they would open the first door. The children dawdled, looking around them and occasionally dashing away to chase after a rabbit or look at a brightly colored rock. Lesrak had several pockets' worth of rocks that he had collected in the last few days, and Faeryl had a lizard in hers. Ilfryn made her set the lizard free, explaining that it needed sunlight, and there was none at home.

Six doors later, they were home, Ilfryn looking tired as he always did after that particular transport. The children disappeared into a crowd of their cousins, all of them demanding to know what it was like being on the surface, and Imryne left her spouses to unpack while she went to talk to her mother.

The familiar hallways of House Melrae seemed a little strange to her, now, darker than she remembered them being. She had never been away from home for more than an ilit before--where would she go?--so coming home was a strange sensation.

Her mother was waiting for her, evidently having been told that Imryne and her family were back. "Imryne, how was your trip? It's good to see you again," Triel said, smiling. It was late in the first period, and her curly hair was bound tightly with her jeweled pins.

"It's good to see you again as well, Mother," Imryne said as she took her familiar seat across form her mother. "It was a very good trip, except for the end. We found out that House Vandree is looking for Tar."

Triel took a sharp breath, and straightened. "Two questions, why, and how do they know she is alive?"

"The why is because they want to use her to bring down Telenna. The how, we don't know, though they were looking for her up on the surface. Probably still are, actually. I caused some trouble, I'm afraid," she said, grimacing. "We're seriously considering letting Tar walk up to House Vandree and introduce herself."

Her mother's eyes narrowed. "What trouble did you cause? Why would you consider that the best option? And why do they want Telenna gone?"

Imryne tried not to bite her lip. "I had a conversation with Vandree Thalra that ended up with her, her bodyguard, and a couple of onlookers dead. Tar going alone is the best option because otherwise, the Vandree might wonder if we didn't have something to do with Thalra's death. As for why they want Telenna gone...Telenna's involvement with Kilsek may be proving problematic for Vandree. That's my main suspicion."

"Thalra being dead could cause a problem inside Vandree," Triel said, her shoulders still straight. "Like your sisters, opportunities arose that allowed a great many of the daughters of Vandree to head their own houses. I am not so sure anymore that Imrae has a viable daughter to put on the council. It would mean that she would be sitting on the council. She could reabsorb some of her daughters' houses and make them do it, but that will take time."

"It might be time she doesn't have," Imryne said. "If Telenna gets wind that Vandree has Tar, they may attack. If the alliance of the top three holds, they'll be destroyed--but if it doesn't, Vandree goes down."

"If you know exactly why Vandree wants to destroy Telenna, then you could predict what way it will go." Triel fingered her ring, the sapphires and emeralds glinting in the soft light. "Vandree dying puts Arabani up next and if we help Telenna destroy Arabani, Telenna is third house. And you said that at least one of Telenna is bedding a Kilsek. Did Telenna do this on purpose?"

"Elerra is bedding Ereldra, yes. Hm. If the information that Vandree got maybe came from Telenna in the first place...it might have happened. And now I'm starting to wonder a bit about how we got the message in the first place," Imryne mused. "Ryld sent a message, not to Jevan or I, but to a human. Quarra, that spy we let go on the surface. With the message, he said that they were watching him and who he was talking to. We haven't heard from him in a long time, I consider it plausible still. And Quarra was working for Arabani, not that it really makes any difference now."

Triel sat back, and Imryne relaxed a bit. It looked like her mother wasn't going to give her the scolding she probably deserved. "Let's think for a bit. Telenna knows Tar is alive, she was the only one they couldn't find. They may think she is dead anyway, or she would have come forward decades ago. Releasing her name is not a risk. Ereldra tells Elerra. Elerra tells or leaks that to Thalra."

"Thalra jumps on it, because Telenna is becoming a problem for Vandree," Imryne continued. "So she goes looking. But that means Thalra is on the surface, alone. Well, not quite alone, but away from her house."

"The question that still bothers me is why Vandree or maybe just Thalra wants Telenna dead." She paused, and then smiled briefly. "Or maybe just one person in Telenna dead."

Kilsek Elerra must be amazing in bed, Imryne thought. I can't imagine it. "So, Vandree wants Telenna dead, for whatever reason. Assume Telenna knows this, and knows that Thalra is her mother's last viable daughter for the council. So Thalra runs up to look for Tar...and I'm pointed right at her. Which, really, had only one conclusion."

"You kill the last daughter of House Vandree," Triel said.

"Which means someone knows Tar is in Melrae. Probably Greyanna. She knows Ryld's name, she knew that Quarra went in to our house and never came out, and she makes him contact her with misinformation," Imryne said grimly. "Which means that Greyanna really wants Vandree and Telenna to be at each other's throats."

"Telenna is powerful and Vandree is waning in power." Triel's eyes were alive with thought. "This might be a way to cull that alliance, and lock a powerful house into an alliance with them. The fly in the honey here is Tar. Telenna might know she is alive, but just not where. And if it wasn't for your relationship, would Tar even be anywhere near here?"

Imryne shook her head. "No, she probably would have left for another city or the surface a long time ago. So Tar actually showing up would probably surprise them."

"It would, but the danger to Tar is very great. Vandree won't kill her until they are done with her but if Telenna finds out they have her, they will stop at nothing to get to her."

"Including destroying Vandree to get her," she said. "I know. I hate the thought of sending Tar in there."

Triel nodded. "Go to council tomorrow and judge then. I think Greyanna has a hand in this somewhere."

It was the only thing that Imryne could really do. She kissed her mother and went back to the set, allowing the rhythm of life in the house to lift her up and carry her forward, the demands of children and spouses and siblings catching her up. Gaussaria came by to consult with her on some matters of supplies coming into the house.

Imryne let it distract her from the sense of doom that was settling on her shoulders. She could only keep it from her so long, though, and as she walked into the council house the next ilit, she felt fear like a smothering cloak on her.

The gathering started as usual, with Greyanna a bit tardy as usual. Thalra's absence was noticed and set tongues wagging, Ereldra and Elerra exchanging a long, silent look. The doors opened, and Greyanna strode inside.

Behind her, surrounded by her guards, was Matron Mother Vandree Imrae.

Imrae had once been almost as heavyset as Olorae, but age was making her lean, her skin lined and paper-dry. Though she wore it up, it was easy to see that her hair was thinning. She was old, and she had ruled as matron mother of Vandree since long before House Fanaedar had fallen.

Excited murmurs ran through the assembled council then as Imrae made her way to the Vandree seat and settled there. "Enough," Greyanna ordered, and the council fell silent. She sat down in her own seat. "We are honored by the appearance of Imrae of House Vandree, but troubled by the reason behind it. Thalra was murdered yesterday. A dagger through her throat her bodyguard gave his life, as well as it should be."

She waited for the gasps to stop. Imryne tried to look surprised, at least. Greyanna continued, "Now we will not rest until the culprit are found and who is behind all of this. But for now Imrae will be taking her daughter's place until she decides which of her daughters' houses will be reabsorbed into her house to take Thalra's place. Evidence so far points to Abburth, but we will investigate farther. So on to business." She moved on briskly, going over the reports on farming, on the spy network in Abburth. She tried to sugarcoat it, but the numbers spoke for themselves. Most of the spies were turning up no information, and many were dying. The Jenn were losing many warriors, as well.

Imryne kept an eye on Elerra and Ereldra; the latter looked worried, the former almost pleased. Arabani Drada stood and gave a report in a voice that did not shake, though her news was no improvement over what she had been reporting lately. The slave capturing was light, sales were lighter, and they were having to travel farther and farther to find slaves.

After Drada had finished and sat down, Greyanna stood once more. "Arabani, Melrae, please stay. The rest of you can go." The others filed out, and it was impossible to miss the fact that Imrae stated seated, watching the council leave.

Once the council house doors had banged closed, Greyanna took a breath. "Drada, prepare your people for a raid. Vandree is heading to the surface to find out what happened to Thalra. I don't want this out, but Thalra was killed on the surface. Vandree is going to a human town called Vrinn and has a great many people in position there already. They are going to capture as many of the town as is possible. Those that know nothing of Thalra's death will be sold at the auctions, so Melrae, prepare for a long auction in a week or less."

Drada looked almost ill. Feeling sorry for her, Imryne said, "I will. So blaming Abburth was merely a bit of misdirection?"

"Abburth may have had something to do with it. I think that Ellistraee had more of hand, but since Abburth worships said pagan goddess by default of course we will blame them." Greyanna's smile was thin and hard. "Honestly, I think it was something else. One of us, looking to weaken Vandree. But Vandree is never weak, is the problem with their plan." She gave a sidelong glance at Imrae. "They will show their face and the alliance will destroy them. Elerra has a keen fascination with new things and people, and Thalra forgot that. I think she may have been looking for Elerra's new lover. And she found them, much to her detriment."

"On the surface, though?" Imryne asked.

"That is the part that makes me wonder." Again Greyanna glanced at Imrae. "Imrae has currently declined to disclose more in hopes of said party making an error and then she will pounce on them."

"Wise move on her part. So Thalra and Elerra used to be involved, then."

"Yes until very recently, but Elerra tends to focus on one person. Her mind wanders after a few decades. So it happened to Thalra." Her voice was sour, and Imryne read disgust in that note.

Imrae stirred, looking at Imryne. "We do not blame Elerra for that. Thalra knew that before she started the relationship. Just in case, Imryne, that you think that this will start some sort of infighting."

Dryly, Imryne said, "I'd hope we mostly start fights over things more important than lover's spats."

"That we will," Imrae said, still looking at Imryne steadily. "Greyanna, Drada, if you will excuse us?"

Drada was up and out of her chair without a glance backward. Greyanna lifted an eyebrow but she did leave, though slower than Drada had gone. Once they were out, Imryne was alone with Imrae, under the full weight of Imrae's gaze.

"You have risen fast, Imryne, and reports tell me that you are very bright," Imrae said, her voice almost pleasant.

"So my mother claims," she said quietly.

Imrae's look was amused. "I have lived a long time and in that time I had a lot of reports on Melrae. Including a relationship between you and one Tarithra of House Hune. Do you know where she is?"

Panic briefly closed Imryne's throat. Was Imrae about to force her hand? "That depends on why you ask. If your reports are accurate, they would have also have noted that I would never betray her. Officially, that relationship never happened, and Tarithra died with her house."

"Officially a lot of things happen that never did," Imrae said dryly. "If Tarithra comes to me of her own free will, House Melrae's involvement in this matter will never come to light, and Tarithra will return safely." She leaned forward, putting her hands on the polished surface of the table. "If she does not, I will gaze upon Melrae until you flinch. And then I will stand on the rubble of your house and watch your mother's blood run down it."

The threat was delivered in a voice that was pleasant, almost conversational, but looking into Imrae's dark eyes proved that the threat was not idle. Imrae was absolutely convinced of her ability to back up her words. Cold was trickling down Imryne's spine. "That is...quite the offer. How much time are you going to give me to produce a lover who I may not even be able to locate?"

"How long do you think you will need to produce said lover?" Imrae asked.

She considered. "That depends on a number of things. But if I can find her, I can probably at least locate her before the next council meeting."

"You have the strand, then. Think carefully, and use that brightness I have heard about." She was still so calm.

Imryne looked back at her, unwilling to show weakness. "And I have your word that if she walks in of her own free will, you will release her safely when you're done with whatever you have planned?"

"You have my word, that she will walk out our door alive."

It was not enough. "I would add one condition to that--that she walks out your door and into Melrae custody alive."

Imrae frowned. "She will come out our door alive and into whatever or whoever's company you like. We can arrange a meeting place to pass her back to you if you like."

"That would be the best. I won't find her and bring her back just to get her killed," she said. "By the way, you have my and my house's condolences about Thalra."

Imrae acknowledged her words with a nod. "I am sure not. You must still have feelings for the girl. And if you think that you are being unfairly treated in this--" She smiled briefly. "You will have Vandree's gratitude. With which alliances are built."

"True enough. I will think on it, and find her," Imryne said. Imrae nodded and rose, collecting her guard and departing. It was Imryne and Jevan alone in the council house, now, and Imryne said, quietly, "Home."

Safely inside the inner doors, Imryne sagged. "Well, we have that opening I was looking for."

"We do but I don't like what she is making us do," Jevan said, scowling. Imryne stepped into an alcove, beckoning him inside. "She has us against a wall."

"I know, and I don't trust her." Imryne sat down on the chaise in the alcove.

He sat down beside her. "We do have an opportunity here, though. We can sit back and watch Telenna get destroyed, or we can get Vandree killed. Let Tar walk into Vandree and telling Telenna she is in there."

"Telenna would destroy Vandree to the last, if that alliance is as shaky as it looks," she said. "Despite Greyanna's blathering."

"They would. And which benefits us more?"

Imryne pressed her lips together. "Either of them benefit us. Destroy Vandree and the three-house alliance at the top is broken, though Telenna will quickly take their place. Destroy Telenna, and vengeance is satisfied, and we can start on an alliance with Vandree."

"If we tell Telenna, getting Tar out becomes a problem, they will want her dead. But I don't think Vandree will let her go either. They will walk her out to us and they we will be ambushed."

She shook her head. "Unless we manage to give Tar an escape route that Vandree can't take from her. Let's go find Tar and Ilfryn. I want us all to discuss this."

They made their way to the set. Tar was napping with Maya on her chest, evidently having curled up for some sleep once she'd finished feeding the baby. She and Maya both woke when they came in, and Maya reached for Imryne, making cooing noises.

Imryne picked Maya up and sat down next to Tar when Tar sat up and moved her legs to make room. Ilfryn came in from the room he used as a workshop, looking concerned when he caught sight of Imryne's worried face. "Well. That was interesting," she said. "Vandree Imrae made me quite the offer. Tar walks up to them of her own free will, or Vandree watches and waits for an opportunity to destroy Melrae. She knows about our relationship, Tar, but I'm not sure she knows you're currently here."

Tar took a sharp breath. "There isn't much of a choice there. I will have to go. Vandree can do what they say and my life for the house--it's not really a decision."

"The other option was for you to go and then tell Telenna where you are. Telenna would destroy Vandree to get to you. But I think I prefer to bring down Telenna, and it would be safer for you. Still not safe. But less risk."

"I prefer that option as well. With Telenna gone and if I get out alive. I am free to walk the city again," Tar said with a small smile. She reached out to stroke the sparse hair on Maya's head, and the infant waved her arms, reaching for Imryne's face with chubby hands. "Stop that, baby girl, let your mothers talk."

"That would be very nice, and Imrae promised me that you would walk our her door and into the company of whoever I choose alive. No promises after that moment, she still may choose to ambush us afterward." Imryne grimaced. "I hate being backed into a corner, though."

"No other options, it sounds like," Tar said. "Now she knew about our relationship, which is something that Rauva could have told Greyanna, but that information would have to get to Imrae from there. And she must think or know that I am here somehow. Again, Rauva could have told Greyanna, otherwise what happens if you couldn't find me?"

"If I couldn't find you, Vandree would be at our throat, and quickly. Their power may be waning, but it's still significant." Imryne caught one of Maya's hands when her fingernails grazed her chin. The child squirmed. "It may have been Rauva telling Greyanna, who passed the information on. Or we may have a spy or two inside here. She did sound like she thought she was operating on old information--otherwise, why wait until her daughter dies on the surface to approach me?"

"No reason to destroy Telenna until they think Thalra was killed by them. But why would they think that?"

"Thalra and Elerra used to be lovers," Imryne said. "I wonder if Imrae thinks Ereldra killed Thalra. It seems far-fetched, though. It may be that Imrae thinks Thalra was killed because she was looking for you, and thinks Telenna would be the house to know that they were hunting you. This has Greyanna's fingerprints all over it, is the worst thing."

"Can we tie it back to her?" Tar asked.

Imryne shook her head. "We have no proof, except Ryld. And we can't get to Ryld, and don't even know if it was him who sent the message to Quarra."

"Is there any way to contact Ryld to confirm that or not?"

She shifted, and settled Maya a bit better on her lap. The baby's blue eyes closed. "The only thought I had there was Sorn. He may be able to at least see Ryld. Might not be able to talk to him, but whatever he sees might be useful."

Tar looked thoughtful. "How do you stop a dreamer from entering your dreams, or how do you monitor who he is talking to?"

Jevan frowned. "I have a horrible thought."

"What?" Imryne asked.

"I think I can answer this question," he said. "I encountered in my travels a creature from the deeps here. Tentacles on its face, highly telepathic."

"Illithids. Nasty things," Imryne said. "You think Greyanna's keeping one as a pet, or has an alliance with one? It would make sense for controlling Ryld."

"It explains a lot and may answer how she knows so much," he said.

Imryne took a breath. "She could use it to get information from the husbands and wives the other houses send her. And in that case, she would know exactly where Tar is and why she's important."

"And if it walks around the streets or is sitting by the council chambers..." Jevan trailed off, and Imryne felt cold. "It makes the most sense. Now it could monitor Ryld and he would have to jump from person to person to not give away who he is talking to."

"So if it was Ryld who sent that message, then that's what may be happening," she said. Maya opened her eyes, whimpering in protest, and Imryne realized she was holding the infant far too tightly. She relaxed her arms with an effort. "He has to find someone dreaming connected with me but not close to me to send a message to."

"Or find someone that he doesn't think would make sense to the illithid."

"Quarra wouldn't, especially if Greyanna didn't know we were on the surface to begin with," she said. "So he contacts Quarra, but does he do that of his own will or did Greyanna make him? Too many questions. I'll contact Sorn and see what he says."

Jevan nodded. "So back to this question of Telenna and Tar. We have no choice that I can see but to let Tar do this. The question is, is when do we want to, what do we want to set in motion that keeps her the most safe, and can we do anything beforehand to ensure that she comes home safer? The only other thing I can think of is that you go in her place and I don't like that one either."

"We could create something that would move her out after a certain time period. Ilfryn could do that, given time," she said. "The other thing I was thinking--Imrae said that Tar needed to come of her own free will. She didn't say that she couldn't bring someone else with her. We can send her in with some guards, maybe ask one of the allied houses for some good warriors who aren't recognizable as ours."

"I would feel better if it were me, but I can't power that staff for that long," he said.

Imryne nodded. "I know, and anything less than the staff would be easily seen through."

"I know. What about me, though?" he asked. "Would she object? What difference would it make? She knows you have a relationship, she thinks I am your slave. You are protecting a lover with the best warrior you know."

"I think she would let you in, especially if Tar insisted," she said. "But if any of the council members see you, they'll know that Melrae has a hand in this somewhere. What I'm afraid of is if they mean to bring Tar up before the council. Prove that a daughter of House Hune survives, prove that Telenna was the one who killed her house and missed her, and Greyanna's forced to declare them as dead as Freth."

"You know that's Imrae's plan, to put her in front of the council," he said. "Is Tar going before them a problem?"

"It's only a problem if you're standing behind her as yourself," she said dryly. "Having you there would be as much as declaring that Melrae had something to do with her emergence, which is not something we necessarily want public."

Jevan frowned. "My absence will be noticed I don't escort you in."

"True. We may not be able to avoid our involvement in this being known," she said. Even if they used the cup to change Jevan's race, him not being at her side would be enough to set people talking. "I think it's a small enough thing to give away. Worth possibly saving Tar's life."

"By now the top three houses know anyway," Ilfryn pointed out.

"Very briefly," Jevan said wryly. "When we go, will Imrae call a special meeting? or will she wait until the next one?"

"If I were her, I would call a meeting as soon as you were there," Imryne said. "The less time she gives Telenna to know what's going on and act, the better."

"So do we go today, or wait?" Tar asked.

"The sooner the better, I think," Imryne said.

Tar leaned over and kissed Imryne, and then her daughter. "Then we should go. Take care of Maya and Faeryl."

Imryne caught Tar's chin in her hand, fear churning in her gut. "Come back whole, loves. Both of you." She kissed Tar, and Jevan leaned over to kiss her. Tar went to kiss Ilfryn, and then there was a round of goodbyes and kisses and hugs. Then Tar put on her cloak, and Jevan escorted her out.

Cold with fear, Imryne went to tell her mother about the corner Vandree Imrae had backed them into, and the solution they had chosen.


(Ilfryn, in House Melrae)

Ilfryn lay wakeful, in the big bed that seemed so empty with Tarithra and Jevan both gone. Imryne dozed, Maya tucked into the curve of her body. He reached out to stroke her hair, and she curled a little more tightly, murmuring.

I miss her, too, he thought with a sad smile. And Jevan, too, he had to admit. The elf had become a friend over the past almost-cycle, and it had been a thing of rare beauty to watch the relationship between him and Tarithra grow, to watch him and Imryne work through their differences.

And now Jevan and Tarithra were gone, in House Vandree for who knew how long. Ilfryn wondered what was happening to them, if they were awake right now, if Tarithra was seeking shelter in Jevan's arms. Maya stirred, and her eyes opened. She looked up at Ilfryn, and for a moment he thought he caught a glimpse of something in those eyes that was far more mature than a child, something awake, and knowing.

It was only an instant, and then Maya yawned and closed her eyes again, smacking her lips. Ilfryn kept looking down at her, but she only fell asleep once more.

He closed his eyes and shifted so his hand was on Imryne's hip. If they were lucky, Tarithra and Jevan would be home soon.

Ellistraee, please, help us be lucky...


(Imryne, in House Melrae)

The message came just after first meal.

Council meeting at fourth bell. Attendance is mandatory.

Imryne chafed at the tone of the message; Greyanna adding that attendance at council was mandatory was really unnecessary. But she got up anyway, and went to find Zyn. She needed guards--two warriors, and she wanted Ilfryn at her back as well.

Zyn, when she told him what was happening and why the meeting had been called, insisted on coming, and chose one of his best warriors to accompany them. They went to the council house, finding that everyone except the top three houses were there already. There were worried looks being exchanged, and the muttering about what in stone is going on here rose in volume. There were surprised glances at Imryne, and the guards she had with her and the absence of Jevan. Finally, Greyanna, Elerra, and Imrae walked in. They sat down, and Greyanna said, "We will wait for a moment yet."

Silence followed her statement, and reigned in the room. Moments stretched into minutes, and then the report of an explosion rippled through the air, the floor vibrating. That sound was followed by many, many other explosions, close together. "The sound you are hearing is the destruction of House Telenna," Greyanna said, baring her teeth in a show of savage joy.

Telenna Ereldra pressed her hand to her thin mouth, her gasp audible even over the explosions. Imrae spoke, her voice grim. "Bring forth the proof."

The doors opened, and Tar walked in, Jevan behind her. They looked no worse for wear. many on the council looked at those two and glanced at Imryne, making the association. Imryne did not react, simply sat and watched without comment.

Imrae stood. "This is Tarithra of House Hune. Last surviving daughter of the late house Hune. In accordance with our laws, all members of a house must be destroyed. As you remember, those of you that were around, House Hune was destroyed by a non-typical attack. Most don't know who did said destruction, but House Xalyth was bothered by this and found evidence, in the form of a guard from House Telenna who provided the information in exchange for a quick death."

Bemril, Imryne thought. The guard who had betrayed House Hune, who had probably carried the guilt until he had died. Imrae continued. "His words were not coerced and all three of the top houses were present to verify he did not lie. So Telenna will be destroyed. Now, unlike House Telenna, we will not let any members of House Telenna survive."

Imryne's hands gripped the arms of her chair. Now came the blood. Ereldra was swept up by Imrae's guards, pulled from her seat. She was struggling now, her eyes wide with fear. Imrae said, "It is the right of the house that accuses to shed the council members blood, or choose a champion to do it for them. By my right to do so, I choose Elerra of House Kilsek to strike the killing blow."

Now it was Elerra's turn to widen her eyes so the white showed, to go gray with fear. She stood, her usual grace completely gone, shaking. Greyanna brought out the box that had the ritual dagger in it and opened it as Imrae's guards tore the clothing off of Ereldra, removing the last of her dignity with her clothing. She was so painfully thin, her breasts almost nonexistent, her hipbones showing.

Elerra took the ritual dagger, and whirled to stalk over to where Ereldra was being held. She looked almost as if she was crying when she plunged the dagger down, between Ereldra's ribs and into her heart.

Ereldra made a high-pitched noise, choked, and died. At a motion from Imrae, the guards dropped her body on the floor and stepped back. Blood was still flowing from the wound, and it spilled over to stain her ruined dress.

Greyanna's eyes were avid. "House Melrae. I think you are the closest ally. Please inform House T'sarran of their new status and inform them to send a member to the next council meeting. We hope this is a lesson in learning to make sure you clean up your messes. Dismissed."

Imryne stood with the rest, and looked at Imrae, who nodded. Imryne motioned to her guards, and they went to collect Tar and Jevan, surrounding them. They went quickly home, and though Imryne felt as though she had a large target painted on her back, no attack came. The air was thick with smoke from the burning House Telenna.

There was, once they were inside, an ecstatic four-way embrace. Imryne allowed herself a moment of relaxation, of being so very happy that Tar and Jevan were home safe, and then breathed in.

"I need to go see Sorn," she said. "Now. I want to test Greyanna's promise that I can see him any time." A few minutes later, she was organized to do just that, and a little while later was at the gates of House Xalyth. Ilfryn had given her a spell to help her not be read by an illithid, and cautioned her that it would only work for an hour, so she had better be quick.

Sorn came in a little bit later. He looked older every time she saw him, the light in his eyes getting dimmer and dimmer. He looked thinner, as well. She asked him about the newest addition to Greyanna's stable, the Naerth daughter. "She is having a rough time of it," he said. "But goddess help me for saying this, Greyanna's attentions are off me now."

"Well, there will be another new one soon, from T'sarran," Imryne said.

Sorn sighed. "Might make life easier. I heard that Telenna died. Greyanna was just giddy about that."

"I'm sure she was," Imryne said. "She seems to like it when blood's spilled in the council chamber."

"She likes blood spilled just about anywhere, I think," he said, looking away and towards the floor. There was a scar on his neck that hadn't been there a skein ago, well-healed and almost invisible.

"True enough." She lowered her voice. "Sorn...do you remember Ryld?"

He looked up and at her, and frowned. "He died, Imryne."

"Not according to Rauva. She said she gave him to Greyanna," she said.

"So he is here?" he asked.

"I think so," she said. She looked anxious, trying to give nothing away. "In what condition, I have no idea."

Sorn frowned. "He was just a child, the last time I saw him. What's he look like?"

Imryne spread her hands. "I assume he still has the light skin, and from what Rauva said he is not...normal, still. She had a number of uncomplimentary things to say about him, actually. She called me over to gloat, a little while before she died."

"Is he in some sort of rolling chair?" Sorn asked.

"She called him a cripple, so he might well be."

Her brother nodded. "I have seen him, then."

She lit up, wanting to appear hungry for news. "What did you see? How is he? How do they treat him here?"

He rubbed his forehead, as if it hurt. "He was kept in a wing by himself, but he comes out sometimes to sit in the courtyard to look at the city. He used to be rolled out by Greyanna most of the time, but about two months ago, he got a keeper. He looks healthy enough for sitting in a chair all day." Sorn took a long breath. "He looks a little like no one is home upstairs, or very little happens in his brain. He seems simple, sorry to say."

"I...didn't really expect anything else," Imryne said. "I love him anyway. So they're not hurting him, at least. What kind of keeper did he get?"

Sorn shrugged. "Hard to tell, they never take their cloak off. Must be a very cold person or creature of some sort. It stands next to the fires a lot. I have never heard it talk and it never acknowledges anyone, even Greyanna."

Illithid. They only lived in the warmest and most humid places down here, near steam vents. "Strange," she said aloud. "Probably a guardian of some sort. I wish I could see him myself, but I know it's impossible."

"I doubt very much that Greyanna would allow that. She would know you are his mother, if Rauva gave him to her," he said.

"I know. Well, at least he's alive, and not being mistreated. It's more than I had before," she said. And a good idea what his guardian is.

Sorn shook himself a little, seeming to draw into himself. "Imryne. I know this is going to sound a bit odd." He pulled out a bit of paper, and handed it to her. "Do you know this child?"

Her brother had always thought of himself as an artist, though Imryne had always suspected him of simply building a case for an exemption from joining the army at his majority. Looking down at the paper now, she realized that Sorn did have a fair hand. There was a child on the paper, a very familiar baby.

It was Maya.

"I...yes, I've seen her. Why?"

Sorn slumped. "I keep seeing her in your arms at night. When I sleep."

Imryne frowned. "That's very strange. Yes, she's one of the household's children."

"Strange that I would see her," he said.

"I don't know what it means. But thank you for telling me." She leaned forward, gave her brother a hug. "I have the healing things you asked for last time here."

"Thank you," he said, and his face was briefly lit with a smile. "I have needed them less this time, but I will probably need to give them to Greyanna's new wife."

"And to the T'sarran son who will be joining you," she said.

He nodded. "I know you can't linger long. If you do ever see that child again. Let her touch you rather than pushing her hands away."

Imryne tried not to look nearly as surprised as she was. "I will. Why, did your dream say something about that?"

"Every time she reaches for your face, you push her hands away. She almost seems like she is trying to tell you something. I don't know, it's just a dream. Ignore it if you want."

I wish I could tell you, Sorn, how much this means to me. He wasn't her favorite brother, too ruined by Rauva to be trusted. But she felt for him and the hard road that he traveled. "Well, there's no harm in it, I suppose. Thank you, Sorn." She hugged him again and departed.

All the way back, she thought, and wondered. Maya. Why Maya?

But she had a feeling she knew, and so her feet quickened until she was almost running.