Beyond the Boundary Stones (The Chronicles of Tevenar Book 3) (25 page)

The girl roused and came to help. Nalini dosed the man with sweet vitriol and worked on his unburned arm while the wizards dealt with his burns. It was a clean snap through both bones of the lower arm, fairly simple to position properly with his muscles relaxed by the drug. By the time she was done and the soldiers had fetched wood so she could splint it, the wizards were finished with the burns on his legs.

“When the swelling goes down in a few days I’ll replace these splints with casts. He’ll need to be swathed from neck to toes, but in a month or two he’ll be good as new.”

“Casts?” The wizard sat back on his heels and regarded her quizzically.

“Of course. Plaster, linen strips—” She shook her head in disgust at his ignorance. “Once it hardens it keeps the bones in place. You don’t use them?”

“Even in an extreme emergency like this, the most someone would have to wait for healing would be a few days. We’ll be able to see to him and the others who need further attention tomorrow or the next day, after we’ve slept and eaten.”

“Must be nice.” Nalini shrugged. “But my methods work just as well, if more slowly.”

“I can see that. Better, in some ways.” He bent back to their patient. “I’d like to talk to you sometime soon, if you don’t mind. I want to hear more about the sorts of things you can do. The other Girodans, too, if they’re willing. I’m eager to learn how you heal so effectively without the Mother’s power.”

Nalini eyed him cautiously. “What exactly do you want to know? A lot of our techniques are secret. We don’t share them with just anybody.” She heaved, yanking the offset pieces of the man’s femur into alignment. “We have to earn a living. Hard to do when others are giving away what we’re selling.”

“No one begrudges you a fair wage for your work,” he assured her. “In Tevenar people pay dues to their guilds, and a portion comes to the Wizards’ Guild to be distributed in stipends and shares.”

“Taxes.” Nalini snorted. “That’s how I was paid in Giroda. If you can call that measly sum payment.”

“More or less. We’ll have to make some sort of arrangement here as well. The Law doesn’t allow wizards to be rewarded individually for our services. We’re required to offer the Mother’s power to everyone, whether they have money or not.”

“No such law binds me.” Nalini tied the final knot on the splint and sat back. “Listen here, wizard. I’ve labored all my life for a pittance. Skills it took me years to perfect brought me less than I could have made working the docks. Yesterday all that changed. I earned more gold in one night than the Magistrates doled out in a year, and that’s after Ozor took his share.”

The wizard’s eyes narrowed. “I know Ozor cares more for wealth than for lives, but you’re a healer, not a trader.”

Nalini moved to the man’s other leg and shook her head. “You don’t understand. For the first time, my work was recognized for its true value. I give people life, I give them relief from pain, I give them functioning bodies.” She pointed at their patient. “How much gold would he give to walk again? I earned that gold, I deserve it, and I want it. If you don’t, that’s your business, but I won’t give you my secrets so you can steal my customers and rob me of my due.”

“I agree your skills are valuable. But surely you don’t allow people to suffer and die because they can’t meet your price?”

Nalini scowled at the condescension in his voice. “I came when you called, didn’t I? Maybe I should have negotiated a deal first, as I did with Ozor. I don’t expect I’ll be compensated for the hours I’ve spent here.”

The wizard ran a hand through his hair. “If you begrudge time spent saving lives, I’ll speak to the Matriarch on your behalf.”

“Don’t bother.” Nalini rose, leaving the bone set but unsplinted, and picked up her bag. Smash it if she’d continue to help people who despised her. “I’ll consider it an investment. Word will spread that the wizards of Tevenar called on the healers of Giroda for help. Folks will be even more eager to fill our coffers instead of standing in your lines.”

The wizard lurched to his feet. “There will never be enough wizards to meet the needs of everyone in Ravanetha. Your skills and those of your colleagues could help make up the difference. But not if all you care about is being celebrated for your brilliance and getting rich at the expense of the sick and injured.”

Anger burned in Nalini’s gut. “Are you calling me greedy?”

“What would you call it? That sleeping drug makes it practical to perform surgery without the Mother’s power. It could save thousands of lives if you teach others how to make it and use it. But instead you want to reserve it for the select few who can afford your demands?”

Nalini took a step toward him. “I don’t see that it’s any concern of yours if I do. I’m not the Mother; I’m not responsible for the people of Ravanetha. Apparently you think you are.”

“She’s given me that responsibility! I have to figure out how a handful of wizards can spread her power to the whole world. Many times the population of Tevenar, which was already too big for us to serve adequately. I have to deal with leaders who care more for power than their people’s welfare, factions that oppose me at every turn, people who insist on believing our power—which the Mother has gone to great lengths to make sure can only ever be used for good—is evil. How am I supposed to succeed if those who might help make it possible are too selfish and gold-hungry to—”

He broke off and took a deep breath, running a hand through his hair. “I’m sorry,” he said heavily. “It’s been a long day and I’m exhausted. I didn’t mean to insult you.”

“And yet you did.” Arrogant bastard. His smooth manner had nearly fooled her. If his mask hadn’t slipped he might have sweet-talked her out of her one chance to gain the wealth and recognition she longed for.

The lioness pressed into the wizard’s side. He leaned against her. “Forgive me. May I speak with you again when things aren’t so chaotic? I can explain what I’m trying to accomplish and how I think you can help. I’m sure we can come to some sort of agreement that gives us both what we want.”

“I don’t think so.” She scowled at him, and at the two apprentices who were watching with big eyes. “You’ve made it clear what you want from me, and I’m not willing to give it.” She turned and strode two paces toward the street, then glanced back for a final word. “If you need my help again, contact Ozor. He’ll negotiate a
fair
price for my services.”

The look on his face was priceless. Grinning to herself, she swept between the two guards and headed back to the village. She had a show to put on.

Fifteen

“Y
ou did this!” Vigorre slammed a handful of charred cloth onto Yoran’s desk. “Smash it, you’re a
Keeper!
You serve the
Mother!
How dare you slaughter innocent people in her name? You’re no better than the ancient wizards! I can’t believe I promised to
obey
you!”

Yoran waited, his mouth a hard line, until Vigorre had to stop to gasp for breath. “Are you quite finished?”

Vigorre choked back the thousand other things he wanted to shout, and nodded stiffly.

“Good. Have a seat.” Yoran gestured to the chairs facing his desk. Vigorre hated to spend a moment longer than necessary in the Purifier leader’s presence, but he sank into one and gripped the slender wooden arms.

“I suppose I understand your outrage. If I were guilty of the crime you accuse me of, I’d deserve your anger. But you’re mistaken. I had nothing to do with the fire at the sailworks.”

“How am I supposed to believe that?” Vigorre tightened his fingers until the carved scrolls bit into his hands. “You told me yourself that you planned to expose the wizards’ limitations. I read the Law, too, remember. I saw the section on triage. What better way to show Ramunna how little the demons care for them? Except you’ve proven you care no more than they do!”

“Which would be true,
if
I’d ordered the fire started. But I didn’t.” Yoran’s manner remained unperturbed.

“So it was a coincidence.” Vigorre freighted his voice with all the scorn he felt.

“Perhaps.” Yoran leaned forward. “Or perhaps the Mother is aiding us in our work.”

Vigorre rocked back, stunned at his audacity. “You can’t mean to suggest
she
would cause such a disaster.”

“Not cause. Merely… influence the timing.” He sat back and pressed the tips of his fingers together. “Disasters happen. They are inherent in the way the Mother has created the world. She neither causes nor prevents them, but when the need is great I believe she sometimes arranges events so the inevitable tragedies serve her purposes instead of working against them.”

Vigorre swallowed and considered Yoran’s words. “So you think the sailworks was going to burn at some point, and the Mother made sure it happened when it would help discredit the demons.”

“Think about it. The Matriarch has been warned many times of the folly of locating an enterprise which uses so many flammable materials inside a wooden building, but she refused to consider constructing a new facility from brick or stone because of the cost. The fire brigade puts out dozens of small fires every month, especially in dry winters like this one. The only surprising thing is that this fire didn’t happen long ago.”

The knot in Vigorre’s stomach unclenched a degree. “Was the Mother preventing it, putting it off until now?”

“Think how many fewer lives were lost because it happened while the demons were here to work their magic than if it had occurred before they arrived.” Yoran regarded him with arched eyebrows.

“That’s true.” Vigorre peeled his hands off the chair arms and massaged his stiff fingers. Even fewer would have died if he’d given in to the Lord of Demons’ temptation the night before. “But the loading bay doors were locked…”

“There’s been a rash of burglaries in the area. It’s my understanding that every business from the docks to the Beggars’ Quarter has been securing their premises for fear of becoming the next victim. The workers were lucky one door was left open for their escape.”

Yoran made it all sound so plausible. The awful conviction that had fueled Vigorre’s rage was fading away. He bit his lip. “You swear by the Mother you didn’t have your people set the fire?”

“I did not. I swear it, by her holy name. May she strike me down if I speak falsely.”

Vigorre heaved a great sigh. “I was so sure… I’m sorry I doubted you.”

Yoran nodded. “I can see how it might seem so. I would go to great lengths to defeat the demons, but there’s no need for such wanton destruction. Our plans are going well. We’ve located a number of individuals throughout Ramunna and the surrounding areas who can’t be helped by any power granted by either the Mother or the demons. We grieve for their plight, but there’s nothing we can do to help them, either. Hopefully the generous amounts we’re paying them to appear before the wizards will ease their burdens. And again, the demons do help some in a limited fashion.”

“Yes.” Vigorre considered the man whose leg Elkan had amputated. He’d been helped, even though that help was brutal to contemplate. The diabetic children, too. When he left, Elkan had been talking with the five sets of parents, despite his exhaustion, arranging for them to find lodging nearby so their children could return every day for treatments.

“Have I addressed your concerns sufficiently?” Yoran’s expression was open and honest. Vigorre couldn’t doubt his sincerity.

Thank the Mother. For a few hours Vigorre had feared the worst: that he was trapped between evil and evil, demons on one side and ruthless men on the other. He’d never been so glad to be wrong. “You have.”

“Good.” Yoran took a wastepaper basket from beneath his desk and used a sheet of paper to sweep the sooty wad of linen into it. He wrinkled his nose at the damp black smear remaining, but dismissed it and turned back to Vigorre with a fatherly smile. “Is there anything else you wish to discuss with me, my son?”

He should tell Yoran about the eagle, and how he had successfully resisted the Lord of Demons’ temptation. But for some reason he couldn’t. This morning Josiah had been eager to pour out the story of how a new familiar had come to them in the night, along with the tale of Kevessa’s ordeal. Elkan had confirmed that the eagle was safely ensconced in his quarters. He’d looked at Vigorre with a quiet pleased certainty that made Vigorre want to shake him and shout aloud his knowledge of their deception.

Other informants would alert Yoran to the appearance of another demon. Vigorre couldn’t bear to admit that the creature had been meant for him, and that even now a part of him felt the urge to surrender to its seduction. Every time he watched golden light pour from the wizards’ hands, he wondered what it felt like. Every time he thought about the row of still bodies who might have lived with one more wizard’s help, guilt tormented him. What if it
had
been the Mother who offered?

He shivered and shook his head. “No, Keeper Yoran. Do you want me to continue working with the wizards?”

“With the demons, yes. From all I’ve heard, you’re doing an excellent job earning their trust. Keep up the good work.”

“I’ll try.”

“Do you think they’ll accept my offer to depart with the ships to Tevenar?”

Vigorre shook his head. “They’re determined to stay.”

“That agrees with what I’ve heard from other sources. Very well. We offered them the Mother’s mercy. If they refuse to take it, they’ll face her justice.” He sat back in his chair. “I expect your father will want to hear a full report of what you’ve seen today. If he, too, questions whether the Purifiers bear any responsibility for the day’s events, I trust you’ll pass on my reassurances.”

“I will. Good-night, Keeper Yoran.”

“Good-night, my son.”

Vigorre rose and moved toward the door. As he put his hand on the knob, Yoran spoke. “One more thing.”

He turned back. “Yes, Keeper Yoran?”

“The Holy Yashonna’s writings suggest that the demon’s power differs from that granted by the Mother in one important respect. The Mother’s windows can show only what truly happened in the past, but windows created by the demons can show false images. They may try to convince you I was responsible for the fire by displaying what seems to be proof. If so, remember that it is a deception, created by the demons to vilify those who oppose them.”