Nightlord: Orb (110 page)

I wondered whether we should go to one of the other walls.  This could be inconvenient.  If we could cross the river and circle around, the harbor area was probably wide open.  For that matter, if it was an issue with the eastern burbs being a wretched hive of scum and villainy, crossing the river was our only real obstacle.

On the other hand, the bridges were illuminated all along their length.  The guards would see us clearly.  We could just ask to be let in.  Offhand, I wasn’t sure what I would do if they told us to go away, but Lissette did tell me to visit.  They might open up.

We mounted up and Bronze carried us to the end of a bridge.

There followed a bit of a shouting match while I tried to persuade the gate guards to lower the drawbridge.  Hollering back and forth over a fifty-foot span of open water isn’t a recipe for persuasiveness.  Besides, the guards were not prepared to be helpful.  I don’t think they really intended to open up for anyone at that hour.

Finally, I gave up in disgust and turned around.  We crossed the Dormer at the bridge upriver of the city—it was guarded and gated and the night rates were extortionary.  I paid it without biting anyone’s head off, but the guards came closer to it than they realized.  Then we tried again at one of the northern gates.

The low-rent districts aren’t limited to the eastern bank of the Dormer river.  Carrillon’s outer wall is surrounded by them.  No, let me take that back.  Carrillon is a somewhat spread-out city, with some inner sections surrounded by defensive walls, but no outer wall surrounding the city as a whole.  With that many people living outside the wall, the city has outgrown its walls.

As a result, we had to go through another low-rent district—the northern area isn’t exactly suburbs.  It’s more of a less-fashionable and less-expensive part of the city.

On the other hand, given some of the less savory individuals roaming the streets, maybe the city’s defensive wall was more useful against the suburbanites than against actual enemies of the State.  Even though the district was mostly permanent buildings—actual construction, not some knocked-together shantytown—I’m not sure I’d want Tianna walking through the area at night.  I’m not sure I’d want to walk through it during the day.

The nearest northern gate had a guardhouse and a garrison of ten men.  That told me all I needed to know about how they regarded the outer city.  Dismounting and speaking politely went a long way toward getting us inside, but wasn’t quite enough.

They hadn’t heard of Tianna.  They also didn’t believe me when I identified myself—I blame the beard.  Firebrand, on the other hand, they recognized.  Since it was in close proximity, they did what it said without hesitation.

As we rode in, I put a hand on Firebrand’s hilt.

“For future reference?”

Yes, Boss?

“The phrase, ‘Open in the name of the King,’ is acceptable.  ‘Make way for the King before I burn your eyeballs to ashes,’ is not.”

Yes, Boss.

Tianna snickered; she heard the exchange.  I ignored this with something resembling dignity while we proceeded to the Palace of Carrillon.  We didn’t have to argue with gate-guards at any of the inner walls—the outer walls of Carrillon, when the city was smaller—because, I think, the gate-guards had some way to communicate.  At least, if I was setting things up, I’d have arranged communications for the guards.

It’s possible I did, as a defensive measure for my home base.  What else have I been up to?

The Palace opened the outer gates and let us into the courtyard without fuss.  Tianna and I dismounted at the base of the steps.  Bronze stood there with us, looking around.  It was a nice place, this palace.  Not up to the standards of Zirafel, but I’m a little—burp; excuse me—biased on the subject.  Instead of big and solid, it was more sprawling and extensive.  Someone designed it to be a mansion, added on to it, had a fire and rebuilt portions, renovated old pieces, and continued in like fashion for a few centuries.

Broad, shallow steps stretched the length of the portico.  At the top, a pillared area sheltered the front of the building and had a pair of massive, giant-sized doors.

Why do people like super-sized doors in this sort of building?  Sure, they have people-sized doors built into the big doors, but why bother to have the big doors in the first place?  Visiting giants?  Or to intimidate visitors? 

The main doors opened in slow, grand sweeps.  A liveried gentleman came out to greet us.  If they were trying for intimidation, the contrast ruined it.  The doors were huge, but having a single man come out through them spoiled the effect.

“Good night to you both,” he offered, bowing from the top of the steps.  “I am Hogarth.  I will do my humble best to make you welcome.”

“Suits me,” I told him.  I dismounted.  “I am Halar.  This is my granddaughter, Tianna, Priestess of the Mother of Flame, High Priestess of the Flame in the Fortress of the East.”  I helped her down.  “This is Bronze.  And I am sure you know Firebrand.”

We’ve met.

“Of course,” he agreed, bowing deeply in acknowledgment.  “If you will follow me?”

Hold it,
Firebrand cautioned.  The way it sounded in my head seemed a private statement.

What’s wrong?
I sent back.

Hogarth, here, is about to be an idiot.  He’s thinking he can really get in good with Thomen by killing you.  After all, you’re a deposed king, and keeping you off the throne is a good idea.  He’s certain he can set you up and then talk to Thomen in private—he’ll be rewarded, even if Thomen doesn’t take the opportunity.

Thomen?
  Not Lissette?

That’s who he wants to impress, Boss.

“Hogarth.”

“Yes?”

“Perhaps you would be so good as to get approval for your plan before you take it upon yourself to do anything rash.  Since we were invited here by the Queen, we’ll wait here while you inform Her Majesty of our arrival.”

Hogarth bowed, backed away, and turned to walk quickly back into the building.

“Is this a problem, Gramps?”

“Maybe.  Lissette wanted to see us, but she may not have made it clear to her underlings.”

“Weren’t they expecting us?”

“I think so, but I also think they need to be clear on how hospitable to be.  Hogarth was planning on ambushing me to earn points.  The staff may be a little confused on the purpose of our visit.”

We stood in the courtyard for more than ten minutes, less than half an hour.  Bronze supplied me with some extra patience.  I helped Tianna up on Bronze so she had a place to sit.  I leaned against Bronze’s shoulder.

The doors opened again and Hogarth came out, flanked by what I thought, at first, to be a pair of elves.  They wore dark clothes and some sort of veil over the lower part of their faces.  They were tall for the local elves, but they moved with an uncanny, almost disgusting grace.  Ballet dancers envy the way these two walked.  It was as though every movement was honored to have been chosen for the glory of execution, which is pretty typical of elven grace.

But their spirits weren’t elvish.  They were human.  They carried light, elf-style weapons and moved like elves… Then I had it.  Malana and Malena.  Of course.  They were taller than they used to be, a phenomenon common to young people I haven’t seen in a decade.  I really need to get used to it.

Hogarth bowed again.

“The Queen requests the presence of the Priestess Tianna and the Dragonsword.”

“What about me?”

“I am told you are well-familiar with Her Majesty’s personal guards.  They will escort you to a chamber where you may refresh yourself before having audience with the Queen.”

Interesting phrasing, I thought.  Was I granting the audience to the Queen, or was she granting one to me?  I chose not to press the point.

I unbuckled the gear and tackle that goes with Firebrand and handed the bundle to Tianna, including the new smacking-stick.

“Take good care of each other,” I told them.

“Are you going to be all right?” Tianna asked, softly.

“Undoubtedly, because I’m being honest.”

“That’s not a guarantee,” she noted.

“True.  But I also have you and Firebrand in close proximity, and Bronze will help if you need her.”

I don’t like being separated from you, Boss.  Not here.  There’s too much fear and hostility in this place.

“That’s part of why I’m here.  To deal with it.”

How are you going to do that?

“I don’t know, I’m making this up as I go.  Too much depends on Lissette for me to have a plan.”

“Grandfather?”

“Yes, dear?”

“Would you please survive?”

“I’ll do my best.  Now go talk to your step-grandmother and reassure her.  And see if you can arrange to have the Kingsmacker given to Tyma.  Oh!  If Tyma’s instruments are available, I’d like to see them.  I understand they’re not working and I’d like to try to fix them.”

“All right,” she agreed, doubtfully.  She went up the steps, lugging Firebrand.  Malana and Malena came down as Hogarth showed Tianna inside.

“Evening,” I offered.  “My, but you’ve grown.  And you move amazingly well.  Has Seldar been doing his fighting-growing-spell thing for you?”

“We’ve grown quite proficient at it, ourselves,” Malana told me.

“Over the course of the last few years,” Malena continued.

“We’ve handled it ever since the end of the wars.”

“Especially since we knew he was going into the priesthood.”

“Our magical training has lagged a bit.”

“Compared to our martial training.”

“But everything would, considering.”

I made a deliberate effort to stop my head snapping back and forth.  It was like watching a tennis match from much too close.

“Could you two stand closer together?” I asked, plaintively.  “I’m going cross-eyed trying to pay attention to the speaker.”  Obligingly, and in perfect unison, they took a step toward each other.  Graceful, but creepy.  Gracefully creepy?  Creepily graceful?

“If you would follow us, Your Majesty, we will show you to a chamber.”

“Yes, but could you call me ‘Halar’?  I’m trying to give up the kinging business so Lissette can run the place.”  They glanced at each other and I distinctly saw something flicker between them.  It wasn’t a spell; it was a flicker of… their spirits?  It was a deep something, possibly because they were twins.  Could they feel each other’s thoughts?

I wonder.  If I had Mary watch closely, would she see something like it when I talked with Firebrand?  Or with Bronze?  Come to that, what would Mary see if she watched the twins?

The Someday Holiday is really going to be busy.

“As you wish… Halar.”  They stepped aside and gestured for me to pass between them.  Again, in perfect unison.  It was like watching one person in two places.  I took the hint and moved forward, presenting them with a perfect opportunity to attack.

Might as well find out.

To my considerable relief and modest surprise, they fell into step beside me.  That might bode well for my future.  I had a brief, internal monologue about whether I was going to a comfortable room, a prison cell, or something with qualities of both.  I decided it was about seventy-thirty in favor of the cell, with or without the comforts.

Again, I was surprised.  The rooms were underground, to be sure, but the floors were covered in rugs, the furniture solid and comfortable, and the bathroom had running water.  No shower, not even a waterfall, but the tub could be filled from a big, brass tap.  There was only the one water pipe.  Heating the water involved building a fire under one end of the tub.  I felt the urge to improve on the design, but restrained myself with some effort.

The lack of windows was, to me, a selling point, not a detriment.  I’m sure everyone else felt the same, although for different reasons, considering I was the one about to occupy the place.

The twins took up station inside the only door, however, one to either side.  I wasn’t sure if they were there for my protection or restraint.  Possibly both.

I availed myself of the bathroom to remove the smoky smell that goes with a high-speed run on Bronze.  I cleaned my clothes magically, dried myself, and dressed again before I emerged.  The twins were still standing at the door.

“Okay, I’m ready whenever the Queen is.”

They didn’t even glance at each other.

“Her Majesty will see you later this morning.”

“We weren’t expecting you so soon.”

“If there’s anything you need in the meantime.”

“We would be most honored to provide it.”

“Perhaps someone to eat or drink?”

“Or is there something else you would prefer?”

I found it helpful to look at the door, between them, rather than shift back and forth.  It also seemed wise to let them finish.  Since they alternated speaking, they never seemed to draw breath until they stopped talking.

“I’m a little hungry,” I admitted, “but it’ll wait until someone needs my services.”  They gave me a questioning look, so I explained again about the express service to the afterlife.  That did cause them to glance at each other.  Again, the spiritual sparks flickered between them.