Beyond the Boundary Stones (The Chronicles of Tevenar Book 3) (35 page)

Yoran rubbed his chin, staring into the darkness. “Maybe… it’s tempting. But no. If I’d known that would be their reaction I could have arranged something, but now it would only interfere with what I’ve set up.”

Vigorre grimaced. “I’m sorry. I should have realized, should have told you—”

Yoran waved a hand. “Everything is under control. I just need you to play your part. Your stepmother would have given you your instructions this evening, but now I can instead. I need you to rush back to the palace late tonight, saying the stress of the day has thrown Nathenarre into early labor and begging a wizard to accompany you back to your home. Master Elkan, if at all possible, but any of the three will do.”

Vigorre’s heart thudded in his ears. “This is the trap?”

“Yes. I’m not going to tell you what will happen, because I want you to react naturally. But you’ll be given a chance to fetch each of the other wizards in turn. By morning they’ll all be dealt with.”

“That’s… that’s good.” He felt dizzy. “Even Kevessa?”

Yoran’s voice was sympathetic. “My men have instructions to spare her life if they can. But it depends on how quickly they can separate her from her demon.” At Vigorre’s silence, his tone sharpened. “Better she should die than continue as the creature’s slave. If she was in her right mind she’d gladly sacrifice herself to keep Ramunna free of their evil.”

“Yes,” Vigorre forced out, although he was far from sure of that.

The Keeper reached for his hands and squeezed them again. “If you can find a way to make her demon vulnerable while protecting her, you have my blessing. But everything depends on eliminating the demons. Including the newest one, the eagle. I have folk in the palace ready to slip into the wizard’s quarters and take care of it once the others are gone.”

Vigorre nodded stiffly, fighting to keep his turbulent emotions off his face.

“You walk in the footsteps of the Holy Yashonna and the Prophet Guron, my son. They would be proud of you. The Mother will bless you richly for your part in protecting her people. And though I know it means little to you beside her favor, I will reward you as well, when this is over, with all the wealth and honor I have to offer.”

Vigorre pulled away. “That’s not why I’m doing it.” His voice came out harsher than he’d intended.

“I know, my son. The purity of your devotion is a model for us all. But you deserve it, nevertheless.” Yoran looked toward the door. “Is there anything else you need to ask or tell me, before the guard comes back?”

“I don’t think so.” Vigorre turned away, then jerked back, remembering what Yoran’s unexpected instructions had driven from his mind. “Kevessa’s uncle, Lord Revarren. He’s here with you?”

“I think everyone is along this corridor somewhere.” He raised his voice. “Revarren? Are you there? Who knows where he is?”

Voices called back and forth along the corridor, until one exclaimed from far down the hall. Vigorre hurried to greet him. Revarren smiled at him through the bars. “Tell Kevessa not to worry about me.” His face clouded. “If there’s any way you can get her free from that monster…”

“I’ll try, sir. I promise.”

“Thank you, son. We’d give anything to have our sweet Kevessa back.” He shuddered. “If she’s hurt I’ll never forgive myself for failing to protect her.”

“Nor I.” Vigorre clasped his hand, then hurried back up the corridor. Quiet voices on either side asked him to reassure family and friends of the speakers’ well-being. Vigorre promised to pass on the messages, though he knew he’d never remember all the names.

Back at his father’s cell, he leaned against the bars and dropped his forehead to the cold iron. “I’ll come back as often as I can.”

“We won’t be in here long, just enough to make Yoran’s point. The people have to see for themselves how deeply the demons have ensnared her. She dares imprison the Mother’s highest representatives for their sake. They’ll demand our release. When the creatures are dead she’ll come to her senses and grant it.”

“I hope so, Father.” He’d known all along that Yoran would ask him to betray the wizards to their deaths. But somehow he’d allowed himself to forget it. The false friendship he’d offered had become real at some point during the past week.

“The Mother will protect us. May she guide and guard you, son, and prosper your work.” Emirre made the sign of blessing over his hands.

“Thank you, Father,” Vigorre muttered. How could the Mother bless betrayal and murder, no matter how justified?

The sound of the heavy door creaking open was a welcome release. He muttered a swift farewell to his father and hurried to meet the guard. All the way up he thought about what Yoran expected him to do, and whether he would be able to obey.

* * *

Vigorre emerged from the last stair to the sound of angry female voices. One rose above the rest; he smiled when he recognized his stepmother’s imperious tones. “We demand to speak to our husbands. Do you know who I am? The Mother will rain down curses on your heads for daring to touch her First Keeper. Double if you keep his wife from him.”

The guard with Vigorre hurried to join the two who looked overwhelmed by the group of enraged women. All were of high status and clearly used to getting whatever they wanted. Their full skirts filled the small chamber from wall to wall. “Ladies, please, calm down. I assure you that your spouses are perfectly fine. As soon as their disagreement with the Matriarch is settled they’ll be returned to you safe and sound. A few days at the most, I expect.”

Nathenarre put a hand on her round belly and glared at him. “My husband is not a young man. What will a few days in that foul hole do to him? Do you want my child to grow up fatherless? I order you to stand aside and let me go to him!”

Vigorre hurried to her. “Nathenarre, it’s all right. I just spoke to Father. He’s fine; a little uncomfortable, maybe, but he told me to tell you not to worry about him.” He looked around at the others. “All of them are fine, I promise. I saw.”

The women muttered to each other, still unhappy, but momentarily appeased. Vigorre turned to the guard. “Are you sure you can’t let them go down? One at a time, perhaps?”

The guard shook his head forcefully. “Absolutely not. The Matriarch said you were the only one we were to allow in. She said anyone else who was concerned about the prisoners would have to take your word for their safety.”

Vigorre shrugged helplessly at his stepmother. “I’m sure Father wouldn’t want you to stay down here in the cold and damp, or get so upset. Not in your condition.”

He thought he picked up an approving twinkle in her eye, but she played her part to the hilt. “Upset! How can I not be upset? With demons running loose in the city and my Emirre treated like a common criminal? Take me to the Matriarch! I’ll tell her exactly what I think of—” She clutched her belly and doubled over with a gasp.

Vigorre rounded on the guard. “Now look what you’ve done!” He took Nathenarre’s elbow and patted her back. “Are you all right?”

She straightened, waving away his concern. “It’s nothing.”

Vigorre thought about what reaction would best set up the events Yoran had planned for the night. “Let me take you to the wizards. They can make sure you and the baby are healthy.”

She scowled. “I won’t let those demons touch me.”

“They’re not demons! If something’s wrong, they can help you, I swear. Think of the baby.”

She wavered. “Maybe, if…” Her expression hardened. “But we’re both fine.” She glared at the guards. “I believe that your father is in no danger, for the time being. But I’ll want further evidence tomorrow. Now, take me home.” She put her hands on his arm and allowed him to escort her through the press of women to the door. The others grumbled but turned to follow her.

As they made their way back to the entrance of the palace, one woman pushed through the rest to his side. He recognized Kevessa’s aunt, Lady Alitta. “Vigorre, where’s Kevessa?”

“She’s fine. I left her in the Beggars’ Quarter with the other wizards around an hour ago.”

He could see his words were little comfort. “Will you take me there? I have to talk to her.”

Vigorre glanced at Nathenarre. “I was going to escort my stepmother home.”

Nathenarre nodded to Alitta. “Go ahead, Vigorre. I’ll manage without you. Just come home as soon as you can.”

“I will.” He extended his other arm to Alitta. “I spoke with Lord Revarren; Kevessa asked me to. He’s safe with the others.”

“Thank you.” Alitta smiled, but it didn’t reach her shadowed eyes. She didn’t speak again until they emerged from the main gates and Vigorre had seen Nathenarre into her carriage. Then she directed him to climb into hers, an open one nearly as luxurious as the Rothen vehicles, and they set off toward the square.

Vigorre shifted uncomfortably in his seat. He longed to confide his concern for Kevessa to her aunt, but he didn’t dare reveal his true feelings about the demons, even to someone who probably shared them. Everything depended on him keeping the wizards’ trust just a little longer. “I’ve enjoyed working with Kevessa this past week. She’s so committed to helping people.”

Alitta laughed mirthlessly. “I’d rather she were selfish and shallow, if that would have kept her out of the demon’s clutches.”

He couldn’t show how heartily he agreed. “You believe Nina is a demon?”

Alitta wrung her hands in her lap. “I didn’t want to. I wanted to believe Kevessa had been granted the power of the Mother, just as she always dreamed. But when Revarren told me what he saw, how could I doubt it? And I can see for myself how Kevessa has changed. She used to be so sweet and obedient, agreeable to whatever we asked. Now she pretends she is, but she’s not. The demon has turned her rebellious and defiant. She disobeys us without a qualm. She refuses to leave off her scandalous behavior. Spending days unchaperoned in the heart of the Beggars’ Quarter, associating with all manner of riffraff, laboring like a common worker, exposing herself to who knows what sort of contagion…”

Vigorre didn’t want to shake her conviction, so he didn’t mention that the Kevessa he’d always known had been far less biddable than her parents assumed. “I’m there with her. I’ll protect her from any danger.”

Alitta gave him a grateful smile. “And I thank you for it. I know you’re sincere in your desire to serve the Mother. It’s not your fault the demons are so devious.” She shook her head. “I know. You don’t believe they’re demons.”

Vigorre looked away. “Actually, my father is convinced they are as well. He tried to persuade me. I was so sure he was wrong, but now I can’t help but wonder. He says they’re using my best impulses to tempt me. That they want to trick me into accepting their power so they can control me.”

Alitta’s voice shook. “I’m afraid that’s exactly what they did to Kevessa.”

He shivered. “She swears it’s not true. But she’d say the same thing if it was, wouldn’t she?”

Alitta reached across the carriage and took his hands. “Would you do something for me, please? Help me persuade her to come home with me. Without her creature. Maybe I can talk to her, reach her, once she’s away from its influence. If I’m wrong, and the beast really is from the Mother as she claims, there’s no harm done. And if I’m right…”

Vigorre’s heart leaped. This was his opportunity to get Kevessa away from the other wizards for the night, so when he sprang the trap she wouldn’t be caught in it. “She won’t want to leave Nina, but maybe I can persuade her.”

“Revarren and I will be eternally grateful if you do.” She smiled ruefully. “If your father were to approach us with an offer for her hand, we would look on it very favorably.”

His face warmed, and he pulled his hands away. “I’m honored, but I hope to be betrothed to someone else soon.”

She shrugged. “No matter. Whatever else we can do for you, you need only ask.”

“It’s enough to make sure Kevessa is safe.” He chewed on his lip. “And… to know the truth.”

She nodded grimly. They rode in silence the rest of the way to the square.

When they arrived, both Kevessa and Elkan were busy attending patients. Vigorre helped Alitta down from the carriage and escorted her over to watch Kevessa work. Nirel held a squirming boy on her lap while his mother hovered close, a baby on one hip and a toddler on the other. Kevessa, Nina on her shoulder, hovered a glowing hand over the boy’s leg, but he kept kicking free of the golden light.

Nirel wrapped her arms tighter around the boy as he twisted. “Be still. She’s almost finished.”

“It tickles!” The boy arched his back, nearly freeing himself.

Kevessa pulled her hand away, the light dying. “We need a few more minutes or the place will be too weak and might break again. I don’t think he’d deal well with being stuck in one of Nalini’s casts for weeks.” She leaned close to the boy. “Would you like to hold Nina?”

He froze and stared at the squirrel. “Can I?”

“Be very still so you don’t scare her.” Nina scampered down Kevessa’s arm and into the boy’s lap. She gazed up at him, and he stared back, holding his breath. He stroked her head with one tentative finger. Surreptitiously Kevessa rested a light hand on Nina’s haunches, and the golden light resumed its work.

The boy remained absorbed in Nina for the next several minutes. Every time his attention threatened to wander, she flicked her tail, or sat up and chittered at him, or did something else charming to keep him occupied. Her cleverness made Vigorre smile, until he remembered the truth. Dear Mother, it was easy to forget the familiars weren’t what they seemed to be. Their disguises were just too good. And they never broke character. He’d seen them at work enough to be certain the boy was in no danger from the demon in his lap. No immediate danger, at least. The looming danger to all of Ramunna was another matter.

At length Kevessa sat back with a grin for the boy’s mother. “All done. The leg should stand up to whatever he can throw at it.”

His mother offered a torrent of gratitude. The boy protested as Nina whisked back up to Kevessa’s shoulder, but when Nirel let him go he jumped from her lap and charged across the square, his mother in close pursuit.

Kevessa laughed and caressed Nina. “Good work! I thought we’d never manage to finish.” As she looked toward the waiting line, she caught sight of Vigorre and Alitta, and her eyes widened with happy surprise. “Mama!” she cried, hurrying toward them. “What are you doing here? Vigorre, did you talk to Papa? Is he all right?”