The Scarecrow (Master of Malice Book 1) (48 page)

She sensed Robin’s mental shrug
. He hasn’t asked, but if something’s happened to Taran, our lines of communication are down. After Neremiah’s murder and our suspicions as to the possible culprit, the King’s feeling more than a little jumpy. The last thing he needs is to be out of touch with Levant and Vassa. And we’re getting nowhere here, apart from leaving ourselves open to snide attacks from Lerric’s troops. I don’t know how much longer we’re going to stay.

This wasn’t what she wanted to hear.
Robin, if Lerric has given his men instructions to undermine the King’s escort, he has good reason for it. Tell Elias I recommend he stay for the agreed period, no matter how uncomfortable he might feel. It may be that Lerric is more rattled than he seems and is using these attacks to force you all to leave. A protracted stay might just flush out some rats.

Sullyan sensed Robin’s dubiety through their link.
I’ll tell him, but Sofira was pretty vicious to him this evening and he still hasn’t recovered from what she did to him. I don’t know how much more he can take.

She could appreciate Elias’s discomfort.
Sofira never does anything without good cause. If she is being vicious, she is doing it to hurt Elias. Maybe she also hopes to force him to leave. You must try to convince him that by staying and taking her venom, he is refusing to play her game. She will soon lose her nerve. Sofira is not strong without someone behind her, and it cannot be Lerric. He is too weak.

Robin’s doubt didn’t fade, but he promised to pass on her advice. They broke their link, Sullyan agreeing to contact Robin as soon as she arrived in the city and learned why Taran wasn’t responding. Neither the General nor the King would go to their rest until they knew the city was safe, and she understood why. A small worm of anxiety twisted her own heart on hearing Robin’s news.

“Bulldog …”

“Don’t worry, dear heart, I’ll stay and look after the boys. You go. It’s past midnight already. You’ll probably have to wake old Anjer up to tell him what you’re doing.”

“I have no intention of disturbing the Lord General. I have no time to waste observing the niceties, so I will not trespass on Andaryan soil.”

Sullyan smiled at the huge man, grateful, as on so many occasions in the past, that his ready acceptance of her decisions and his comforting presence enabled her to act without wasting precious time. She knew her son and Elias’s heir were safe in Bull’s capable hands. She didn’t even need to say the words.

She shrugged into her jacket and took her sword from its peg on the wall, slipping the weapons belt over her shoulder. Swinging her heavy cloak across her back, she strode from the room, leaving Bull to clear away the fellan cups and check on the two boys, sleeping like curled puppies in the next room.

Sullyan made her way through the silent Manor, descending the two marble staircases to the ground floor. She emerged into the kitchen courtyard where lamps hung to light the way for those on night duty. No one was about right now and she made it to the horse lines before she encountered anyone else.

The night duty stable hands saw her coming and had Drum bridled before she entered his stall. The enormous black warhorse whickered a soft greeting and she fondled his ears as the lads completed the harnessing. She led the stud from his stall and out into the freezing night, blessing his even temperament. He didn’t even snort as he was made to leave his warm stall and journey into the cold. Vaulting to his broad back, her sword rearing over her shoulder, she trotted him out of the horse lines and into the lane beyond.

Reaching for her psyche, she manipulated the substrate as Drum bore her away from the Manor. Without forming a way through, she sent her awareness out toward the distant city, probing the castle parklands for the imprints of people. Finding none, she constructed an Earth-based aperture in the substrate and rode through it into the realm of Endormir.

Endormir was the first of the four realms, a grassy panorama of open space, a vast country of rolling steppes bordered by sheer mountains. Its indigenous people lived a nomadic life of tents and herds and hunting, and they frequented neighboring Albia in the winter months whenever possible. Endormir suffered ferocious winters with saw-edged winds scything down from the mountains, and those with the talent to escape took their families to warmer climes.

The night-bound snowscape that appeared as she and Drum emerged from the substrate was at least twenty degrees colder than the one she’d just left. Breath froze instantly and her eyes stung from the extreme cold. Swiftly, she constructed another tunnel, guiding Drum into it before the blood could congeal in their veins. It was a relief to feel the harsh winter air of Port Loxton when they emerged onto the snow-covered grass of the castle parklands.

The gate guards didn’t see her or the brief shimmer of the trans-Veil construct. Neither did the men patrolling the wall. The first anyone at the castle knew of her arrival was when she cantered Drum into the garrison stable yard and slithered down his ebony shoulder. The man who had been crossing the yard startled when he saw her.

“Colonel! No one told me to expect you.”

Captain Valustin was doing late rounds of the garrison. Sullyan took one look at his red-rimmed eyes and haggard face and laid a hand on his shoulder.

“What has happened, Captain?”

“You haven’t heard, then? No, of course you wouldn’t have. I think you’d better go see Lord Levant right away. Colonel Vassa’s with him. I imagine they’ll be very relieved you’re here.”

Sullyan’s eyes narrowed. Nothing seemed amiss at the castle. There was no sign of strife and no untoward military activity. The city was quiet beyond the castle walls. But Valustin’s demeanor was strange and she sensed his extreme distress.

“Tell me quickly, Val. Why are you out here tonight? It is not your usual duty. Where is Major Denny?”

Valustin closed his eyes and swallowed. Sullyan was dismayed to see tears glittering when he opened them again. “The Major’s dead, Colonel.”

She reeled. “Denny, dead? How?” She froze, suddenly fearful, and gripped Valustin’s arm. “What of Taran?”

The Captain shook his head. “I don’t know how he is.”

Sullyan could see his grief. He had been a good friend of Denny’s, his second-in-command, for a long time. His heart would be sore over the man’s death, as was hers. Yet she needed details and he was in no condition to give them. She clasped his shoulder gently.

“Forgive me, Val. Distressing events have clearly occurred. I will attend Lord Levant and come and speak with you later.”

To give him something to do, she cast him Drum’s reins. Caring for the stud would calm his aching heart and allow him to regain his composure. For herself, her heart was hammering in her breast, as much for the unknown as for the tragedy that had befallen one of her oldest friends.

She raced for the castle doors, brushing past the astonished guards huddled over their brazier. As she made for the stairway she nearly collided with Princess Seline, who was coming down. The young Princess pulled up sharply, her face turning white. She carried a covered basket and stared at Sullyan with fear and dislike.

Sullyan was astonished to see the young girl up so late. “Princess. What on earth are you doing down here? Should you not be in your bed?”

Seline cast her gaze about, as if looking for something, then drew herself up, a hard look in her eye. “I am about my own business, Colonel Sullyan. I am not required to answer to you.”

Sullyan regarded the young Princess. She could hear her underlying tension and surmised she was about some mischief or other. Yet she could hardly come to harm within the castle walls, and not even Seline could bully the guards into letting her outside on her own at this hour. This issue would keep. Sullyan had more pressing business.

“Then do not let me detain you, your Highness.” The chill in Sullyan’s tone matched Seline’s. She carried on up the stairs, ignoring the Princess, and after a moment heard Seline continue down.

Sullyan made for Levant’s rooms and entered after the briefest of knocks. Levant and Vassa started up at her entry, relief showing plain on their faces. She wasted no time on greetings.

“Gentlemen, tell me everything.”

+ + + + +

S
eline tried to calm her thudding heart after her narrow escape. Another few minutes and she would have been caught going in the side room, for which she had no reasonable explanation. Not that she’d given one for being on the stairs, either, though she knew she had the urgency of Sullyan’s mission to thank for the Artesan’s lack of curiosity. Yet the meeting gave Seline pause and caused her to change her plan. She couldn’t take the risk Sullyan might find time to check on her, or—and this was more likely—that she’d alert Bessie to her whereabouts. Seline must be back in her room and innocently in her bed before anyone could check.

At the foot of the stairs, she glanced about. No one was in sight. She ducked into the room where she’d left the vagabond, shutting the door behind her. It was pitch dark and she waited for her eyes to adjust. A faint glow from the door guards’ brazier gradually illuminated the square of window and she stood with her back to the door, listening intently.

She heard nothing. No rustle of clothing, no breathing. Was he still here? Had he left? Had he been discovered? No, the latter wasn’t possible. If he’d been discovered the whole castle would be roused. She drew a little breath. “Well? Are you still here?”

She jumped as his voice crawled out of the shadows right beside her. “I’m here, your Highness.”

She was amazed and rather irritated. How could someone so foul-smelling have crept so close without her knowing? She put aside her vexation in favor of haste. Delving into her pocket, she brought out a key and gave it to him.

“Here’s the key to the east wing. I can’t take you there now. Something’s happened and I might be missed. I have to get back to my room. If I tell you the way, can you get there by yourself?”

The vagrant grinned, dimly seen in the darkness. “I’ll do my best, your Highness.”

She glared at him, fearing he was mocking her. “If you’re discovered, I’ll say I’ve never even seen you!”

“And how will you explain this?” He held up the key, swinging it before her eyes.

She nearly stamped her foot. “No one knows I have that. Now do you want to know the way, or shall I just leave you here?”

He bowed to her, and she told him.

“Thank you, your Highness. Now I think you’d better go.”

She placed the small basket she’d brought on the table. “Here’s some food. It’s not much, but it was all I could get without arousing suspicion. I can bring you more tomorrow if you like.”

His eyes flashed in alarm. “No, your Highness, that wouldn’t be a good idea. What if you’re seen? I think it best if you forget all about me. Don’t attempt to enter the east wing; don’t even think about it. I can’t risk you getting into trouble. Your mother the Queen would be furious if anything should happen to you. Just leave it to me. If I need your help again, I know how to contact you.”

Seline pouted. This wasn’t what she wanted. Now that her mother had sent someone to aid her in her return, Seline wanted to do more, wanted to be involved. Yet the look on the vagrant’s face discouraged her from voicing the protest that rose to her lips. She relented petulantly.

“Oh, very well. Just don’t forget your promise. My letter to my mother is in that basket. Make sure she receives it.”

He bowed again as she flounced to the door, moving away from the soft light that entered as she left.

+ + + + +

S
ullyan sat in silence, her head in her hands. She simply couldn’t believe what had happened over the past couple of days. First the brutal murder of Neremiah, then the attack in Loxton Forest on two noble citizens. Then the tragedy of the inferno and Jinella’s awful death, and now the massacre of an entire company of King’s Guard, including a very dear friend. Not to mention Taran’s retreat into catatonia. No wonder Robin and Blaine had been unable to raise him. He had sunk so low into despair it was possible he might never recover.

Levant and Vassa watched her helplessly. She had taken the catalog of disaster with no comment, the only indication of her emotions being the tears that filled her eyes. Finally, once they’d told her all, the tears spilled over and she put her head in her hands. She made no sound, and when she finally raised her head her eyes were bleak but dry.

“Gentlemen, you will excuse me while I bespeak General Blaine. He and the King are anxious to know what has occurred here.”

The two men sat drinking their brandy while her eyes lost focus and she passed the distressing news to the General. She was drained when she returned to herself.

“They will return tomorrow evening,” she said. “The meeting with Lerric is not going well and Sofira is proving difficult. There has been an incident involving two of the King’s escort, not serious but enough to cause Elias some embarrassment. Major Tamsen thinks it may have been a scheme of Lerric’s, intended to undermine the integrity of his men. He will investigate further in the morning.

“Jerrim, the King has ordered you to abandon the forest patrols, but he requires you to provide a full armed escort for anyone with pressing business beyond the city walls. All other unnecessary traffic is to cease forthwith. I will order a replacement company sent to you when I contact Bull in the morning. Elias intends to promote Captain Valustin to Lieutenant Major when he returns.”

Vassa nodded and she turned to Levant.

“My Lord, will the city be content with your reassurance of their safety, or do we need to provide a greater show of force?”

Levant considered. “The representatives were happy enough when they left earlier. The mob was dispersed by Ardoch and we’ve heard no more from them. It’ll be quiet enough as long as nothing else happens. But it would only take one more incident, one more attack or murder, and the whole place could erupt. You know what the common people are like when they feel under threat. And the King’s absence doesn’t help. Ardoch heard some of them muttering a ridiculous rumor that he’d fled the city in fear of his life.”