Lhind the Thief (22 page)

“Close by. Neither of you were able to move far,” Kee said.
“We’re in a cellar under an abandoned building. I went back and got a flame
from your fire, which we set to these rotting timbers here. He found the rain
cistern and I found the cups and the pot in the debris upstairs, and that’s my
good Mist-flower leaf. Gran thought we might need it to revive us on long
marches.” She touched her pack. “Luckily they didn’t get mine. You must have
left yours on the roof.”

“Hate to lose that cloak,” I said. “I’m cold.”

“Here. Take mine.” Kee pulled hers out and cast it over me.
“The Scribe says to expect fever,” she went on. “Something to do with that
magic you did.” She shook her head. “I don’t know what to think about that.”

“Me either,” I admitted. “Never done it before.”

I hadn’t thought Hlanan, who was out of sight, could hear
me. His voice startled me when he said, “We’ll need to be gone from here soon.
I hear footsteps overhead more often now. Poor sods,” he added. “Lendan must be
angry indeed, to force them to keep searching through that storm.”

“How long did I sleep?”

“Since yesterday,” Kee said. “It’s late in the night now.
The Scribe only woke a little while ago himself.” She looked troubled again.

Hlanan appeared, sitting down with a steaming pot. The
grimy, torn loose sleeves fell back, revealing lacerated wrists. “Drink up. We
all need it.” He poured tea while overhead, an tremendous crash of thunder
boomed and rattled. Dust sifted down onto us from the timbers. Hlanan glanced
up, and shook his head a little. Then he looked at us and said, “Meanwhile we
must discuss what comes next.”

“I know what I have to do,” Kee said. “Gran is counting on
me. If the Prince of Alezand is still a captive, I still need to get to the
Empress as quick as possible, and tell her what’s happened in our
principality.”

“I don’t know if he is or not,” Hlanan said. “I was drugged
with liref leaves until we reached Fara Bay, and I don’t remember much of
anything after the last time I saw Lhind.” He gave me an odd look.

My face burned. “I didn’t do
anything
,” I protested. “That Steward was the one who put the herbs
in your punch. He was bribed by Lendan. I just escaped being snaffled by that
nasty Geric myself.”

“I know,” Hlanan made haste to say. “What confuses me is why
Lendan contrived this plot just to trap you. Because that’s why he brought me
here, as bait for a trap for you.”

Because I stole his
diamond-and-whistle prisons,
I thought, but things had become so very
unsettled between Hlanan and me that I did not want to talk about them. Did I
still have them?

My fingers moved instinctively to touch the diamonds at my
throat, and I saw both Hlanan and Kee watching.
They think the diamonds are just diamonds. They don’t know about
Faryana. But they won’t believe the whistle is just a whistle.

I pulled the sash from my head, and they watched my hair
lift and swirl about my shoulders. Surreptitiously I dug amid the folds of the
filthy sash, then relaxed I felt the familiar hard shape of the whistle.

Hlanan said to Kee, “You might have a chance to get away if
you can manage to board a ship. I shall try the same. Lendan will have the
roads watched, I’m sure, but even he cannot suborn the Harbormaster, who
answers only to the Faran king. Do you speak any Faran, and have you any coin?”

“A few words of Faran, and not much coin,” Kee admitted.
“Just what my grandmother gave me against my stay in the Empress’s capital,
which is supposed to be terribly expensive. I can work, though,” she stated
firmly.

“What shipboard skills do you have?” Hlanan returned.

“None.”

“What about me?” I protested.

“What about you?” Hlanan asked.

His emphasis was on the ‘about.’ In other words, I was
surprised that I was not included in their planning—and Hlanan was surprised I
expected to be included. At least, that was the impression he was conveying
with his tone and his quizzical smile. His gaze, however, stayed watchful.

Whether covered in mud or silks, I was incapable of being
subtle. “You don’t want me? Is that it?”

“What do you want to do?” Hlanan countered.

Kee sat quietly as she studied her tea.

“What’s going on here?” I demanded. “Here’s me, practically
crisped from nose to toes in order to spring you from somebody I’d not started
the quarrel with—and
no
mention of
reward—yet you act like I’ve just stabbed you in the gizzard when you weren’t
looking.”

“I haven’t forgotten, and I’m grateful,” Hlanan said
soberly. “Very. But I also remember you declaring your preference to be free of
such things as loyalty, or truth. I can’t argue with you anymore. I can’t even
out-spell you, since your magic is obviously much stronger than mine, though I
studied for several years. I accept that you’ll do whatever you want to.”

He did not sound contemptuous or even accusing,
just . . . tired. Disappointed.

I sat there with the bread forgotten in my hand, once again
hurt by a weapon I could not see, could not even name.

Kee said quickly, “You can come with me, Lhind, and welcome.
I think we make a good team.”

I plunged my hands into my trousers and came up with my bag
of burglar’s tools. Flinging out a fistful of the jewels and coins I’d
accumulated since this adventure had begun, I said challengingly, “Think that
will get us passage on some ship?”

Kee gasped. Hlanan gazed at the profusion of treasure
gleaming and winking in the ruddy firelight, his brows raised. “We could travel
like kings,” he said. “With your permission, I’ll take this and see what I can
arrange.”

“Hasn’t that stenchiferous wight Geric Lendan put out a
description of you for his nosers?” I asked.

Hlanan smiled a little. “I’ll avoid them. This grandmother
of a storm will help hide me. And I happen to know Fara Bay fairly well, much
better than Lendan and his friends, I’ve no doubt.”

“If the searchers find this place—” Kee started.

“We’ll find a new hole.” I turned my thumb out. “And Tir
will lead Hlanan to us.”

“I haven’t seen Tir,” Hlanan said, his even voice betraying
worry.

I listened inwardly, and located the bird. “Tir’s fine.
Hiding under the roof.”

Hlanan gave me another of those odd, puzzled looks, then
swept the jewels and coins up with one hand. He thrust them into the pocket in
his filthy trousers. “I’ll be back as soon as I can,” he said, and departed.

I lay flat again, heaving a huge sigh. “I feel as if that
house—and maybe a mountain or two—fell on me.”

“Drink some more Mist-leaf,” Kee urged. “It will help.”

I sat up just enough to drink off the tea in my cup and
reach for more. The freezing lassitude had faded, leaving aches in every part
of my body, particularly my head. With Hlanan gone, the sense of hurt eased. As
I considered what I’d done, the spell for the fire-magic echoed. I knew I’d
never forget it. The thought of calling it again made me shiver and clutch
Kee’s cloak closer about me.

I
did
it. I really
controlled it. Who says I can’t learn magic? On impulse, I reached:
Faryana?

No answer.

I touched the diamonds, and tried again. Still no answer.

That was peculiar, and I felt uncertain, as if I’d been
abandoned. A pang of irritation replaced the uncertainty when I remembered what
she’d said when I’d asked for help. So she was ignoring me because I got my
help elsewhere? Well, let her sulk.

Stealing a peek at Kee, I pulled the whistle from the sash.
Kee was sitting over her tea, her eyes focused worlds beyond her cup.

Hiding the whistle in my palm, I pressed it up against my
head.

You there?
I
asked. Outside, thunder smashed, shaking the building.

I am here. Well done,
my young apprentice
, the voice came, smooth and vast. I sensed silent
laughter beneath the words.
Why are you
hiding? Geric Lendan cannot stand against your will now. You can walk the
streets and fire anyone who attempts to molest you.

I could, I acknowledged, and pride warmed me inside. I
remembered the exaltation I’d felt while riding high on that magic wind,
sending lightning to strike anywhere I wished.

Strike anywhere, but not anyone
, I thought.
Never again
.

Show me.
I could
feel Dhes-Andis reaching into my mind to find the memory, but instinctively I
flicked down the inner door almost all the way, leaving only enough room for
word communication.

Some other time. And
I’m not ready to do that magic again real soon anyway.

The sense of vast darkness withdrew behind its own inner
door, but tendrils swirled and misted around the voice as it said:
Giving in to weakness? I am surprised.

You wouldn’t be if you
felt like I do right now,
I snapped back indignantly.

Laughter streamed toward me, bright and caustic.
I will teach you how to avoid the effects.

How’ll you do that?

Come to Sveran Djur
,
was the reply.

No thanks,
I
retorted.
I’ve heard plenty about that
place, and none of it good. Also, I have a—an errand to see to first.

My city is beautiful,
beyond beautiful. For what is the use of great power when one cannot commandeer
the most beautiful things in the world?

He offered memories, this time beckoning me within his
inward door, and though curiosity was nearly overwhelming, for my love of
beautiful things was strong, I managed to resist. He might not be telling me
the truth, only what I wanted to hear. I’d used that tactic enough in trying to
escape tight situations.

His voice was once again amused when he thought,
What errand is so urgent?

I hesitated on the verge of unloading the whole tale. Why
should I? It wasn’t as if I was safe here. What if Geric did manage to get the
whistle back from me, and he wrested the story from the trapped sorcerer? And
yet . . . and yet.

You don’t need to
know,
I said importantly.

The voice laughed again.
I
am impatient to meet you.

But wait. Why Sveran
Djur? Is that the only place you can be freed from this whistle?

No answer. The voice had disappeared, leaving only the low
mutter of distant thunder.

“I think you’ll enjoy this masquerade,” Hlanan said by way
of greeting when he reappeared. He shook the raindrops off his face and hair,
adding, “At least the storm has abated somewhat, though the streets are
ankle-deep in muck. Hurry and change. The ship will depart just before dawn on
the outgoing tide.”

He pitched wads of cloth at each of us. I sat up cautiously,
glad to find that my headache had diminished. Kee yawned, poking curiously at
her share.

“Use the last of our water to get the soot off your face,
Kee,” Hlanan said with a smile. “Lhind, you’re probably better off as you are.
Luckily there are a lot of other soot-smeared servants down at the docks
clamoring for passage for their master or mistress who wants to get out of the
harbor today. So the soot will contribute to your disguise.”

“We’re going to be disguised?” Kee held up a splendid gown.

“You are now a noble scion—Lady Kieran of North Chur in
Keprima—and her faithful lackey. That’s you, Lhind. Faithful lackeys don’t have
names, at least on ship’s rolls. And tutor, at your service,” Hlanan said,
bowing. “If we can get across the docks, we’ve berths awaiting us. But we’ve
only got a short time. Dress up.”

“Me? A servant?” I asked, delighted. “This will be fun! As
long as I don’t have to do any work.” I shot Kee a warning glare.

Kee snorted, shaking out her dress. We changed hastily,
me—with a groan of disgust—stuffing my poor tail into the shapeless mud-colored
trousers Hlanan had procured. The tunic was a better fit, large and roomy. It
had a hood, and Hlanan had also bought a plain cap. My hair fit under all that.
The only thing I ignored were the shoes.

Or tried to ignore.

“Put those on,” Hlanan said, pointing to the shoes.

“Flames of Rue,” I exclaimed. “I can’t
bear
shoes. They are hot, they pinch unmercifully, they slip and
slide at the worst times—”

“You won’t be climbing any roofs or fences. Put them on.”

“But they hurt the sides of my feet, and did you hear when I
said they are hot? Make my toes itch.”

“And bare feet on a supposed servant will flag Lendan’s
scouts for certain. They know you’re a Hrethan, and Lendan will have told them
that the Hrethan almost never wear shoes.”

“Oh.” This discovery of a Hrethan habit that matched mine
made me feel peculiar. Wincing and grumbling, I eased my feet into the soft
cloth shoes that Hlanan had brought. At least they were not stiff, but I still
loathed the sensation.

Kee watched me take a few gingerly steps, then grinned.
“You’ll catch notice for certain if you walk like someone put slugs in ’em.”

I stomped in a circle. “Is that more convincing?”

“Let’s go, you two,” Hlanan murmured, obviously trying not
to laugh.

Kee whirled around, fluffing out her gown. It was a
high-waisted affair sporting lots of lace at the neck and sleeves, and with her
long pale hair unbraided and hanging down in fine, somewhat stringy locks, she
looked like a different person.

When she saw me looking, she said in an undervoice, “Until
today I was proud of the fact that I have never told a lie. Now I am about to
be living one. I do not know what to think.”

There was this urge to say,
Now you know what it feels like
, except I’d hated it when Faryana
acted so morally superior to me from the inside of the necklace.

I fell in step behind her, carrying the pack like a good
servant. Hlanan had found himself some nondescript clothes, and the gray open
robe of a low-level scribe, but he didn’t look all that different from usual.