Ruby Guardian (32 page)

Emriana noticed Pilos glance at the girl, startled. “I think not,” he replied, never breaking stride as a

couple approached them coming from the opposite direction. “I’m hardly dressed for climbing,” he whispered.

Emriana gave the other pair her best innocent smile, and once they were past, she whispered, “Then what do you propose?”

At that, Pilos pulled the girl into a small alcove set into the wall, a spot where there had possibly been a statue or something similar at one time, but that was empty at the moment. “These,” the young priest said, withdrawing two small vials from an inner pocket of his doublet. “With them, we transform into mere clouds of mist, able to go just about anywhere—through cracks, under locked doors, over walls. Much more elegant than climbing.”

Emriana smirked at the jab, but she eagerly took the vial Pilos held out to her and examined it. Inside, she could see a smoky gray liquid. Grandmother, what do you think?

I think you’ve got one clever partner, Hetta replied, and that you should hurry.

Emriana nodded then asked, “Do you have two— wait, we’ll need three—three more of those for getting back out again?”

Pilos started to smile and nod, but when the girl corrected her statement, his face paled. “No,” he said, forlorn, “I didn’t think to bring a third.”

Emriana grimaced but said, “Don’t worry about it. We’ll figure something out when the time comes.”

Pilos looked relieved. “Then let’s not waste anymore of it,” he said. “Where are we going?”

Emriana pointed to a high wall that connected with the circular building they were in. “See that gate?” she asked, pointing specifically at a large closed double-portal. When Pilos confirmed that he did, she said, “My guess is that there’s a stable and barracks through there, where Lord Wianar’s guards

operate. If there’s a prison in the palace, I bet we can reach it from there.”

“I can’t argue with your logic,” Pilos said, “but do you really think it’s wise to head into the teeth of the palace’s defenses? I thought we were trying to avoid the guards.”

“Trust me,” Emriana said, half smiling. “I’m guessing the yard beyond will be almost deserted this time of night. Most of the guards are either serving as sentries for the celebration or else off on leave. Anyone who stayed behind is probably trying to get some rest.”

‘How do you know all this?”

Emriana laughed. “Because I spend enough time avoiding my own House guards to figure out their patterns. It’s the only way I can sneak out at night.”

Pilos stared at the girl with a mixture of shock and admiration on his face; then he shrugged and gestured for her to lead the way. Emriana smiled and left the alcove, heading in the direction of the large barred gate.

The two of them made their way down a winding flight of stairs and into a garden. At the far end was a wall about twice the height of a man. By her bearings, Emriana reckoned that the large wall with the gate was on the other side of the garden wall, across from a narrow lane that ran between the two.

Giving a quick glance around to make certain no one was nearby, she turned to Pilos and said, “How does this work? What will it feel like when I drink this potion?”

“It’s hard to describe,” the young priest replied, “but you’ll know what to do.”

“How long will it last?”

“Perhaps ten minutes. Make sure you aren’t in a tight area when it expires, or you’ll be in serious trouble.”

Emriana nodded and unstoppered the vial. Taking a deep breath, she swallowed the entire contents in two large gulps. The taste was strange, sort of smoky, but the liquid itself sapped the moisture from her mouth, as though she were sucking on a thick piece of gauze. She started to complain about the sensation, but she realized that she was no longer able to speak. Her body felt completely weightless, and she found she could see in every direction at once, which was quite dizzying. Once she overcame her initial surprise, she got her mind back on the task at hand and willed herself to float to the top of the garden wall. It happened so fast, she almost drifted right past it and up into the sky.

There was no one in the narrow lane, and sure enough, just as Emriana had silently predicted, the thicker curtain wall was standing on the opposite side. She drifted toward the gate, looking for a gap in the doors through which to squeeze. At the last moment, she decided to go under the twin panels, and even as she thought of the motion, it was happening.

There was, indeed, a courtyard beyond, with a riding area and practice field, judging from the various accoutrements set up throughout the open area. On one side sat a large barn, and next td it was what appeared to be a low barracks where the Generon’s soldiers lived. Emriana turned in the other direction, which headed back toward the main part of the palace. There was a long porch on that side, and several doorways leading into darkened interiors.

As she drifted, Emriana began to realize the shortcomings of traveling in such a fashion, for she could not go nearly as fast as she wished, and she was constantly having to compensate for drift caused by the evening breezes. Still, they made good progress. At one point, a pair of guardsmen emerged from one of the doorways, talking softly to themselves as they

began to cross the open expanse of courtyard, headed toward the barracks. Emriana instinctually froze.

Go low, Hetta commanded. Remember, you’re a mist now. Cling close to the ground.

Emriana willed herself to spread out, low to the ground, mimicking the evening mists that often sprang up in her own gardens at home. The two soldiers moved past her position, still deep in conversation, never giving the patch of wispy mist a second glance. After they were beyond her, Emriana wanted to breathe a sigh of relief, but her vaporous condition prevented it. Still, she felt Hetta’s sense of relief echo her own thoughts.

The girl began to move forward again, seeing Pilos moving right along beside her. She led him through a doorway she had picked out upon first entering the courtyard. She had no good reason for the choice. It was a gut reaction.

The space beyond was a narrow, torchlit hall that led deeper into the palace. The first chamber off the passage was a kitchen, though not a large one, and Emriana wondered if it was for staff. At the moment, it was empty and dark, so Emriana drifted inside and toward the back, away from the light of the doorway. She waited as Pilos joined her, wondering how much longer the magic of the potion would last before she had to return to human shape. Apparently, even the thought of materializing was sufficient to undo the enchantment, for Emriana found herself weighed down again. It felt both strange and reassuring at the same time.

Pilos materialized beside her. “Why did you do that?” he whispered. “Why didn’t you keep going?”

“Because,” Emriana replied just as softly, “I don’t know which way to go, and I didn’t want to get caught in the open when the potion’s magic vanished. I didn’t know how much longer we had.”

The young priest nodded. “Probably wise. All right, I think it’s time for me to do a little divination. Wait just a moment.” With that, he extracted a pendant from inside his shirt. It was a coin, a holy symbol just like the ones she had seen Vambran, Xaphira, and Uncle Kovrim wearing. Pilos wrapped his hands around it and closed his eyes, bowing his head in prayer. He began to mutter something, so softly Emriana could not make out the words.

After a moment, the Abreeant opened his eyes again and motioned. “You picked a good route,” he whispered, beginning to head back out of the kitchen and into the hall. “We can get into the lowest levels by following this around and to the left.”

Emriana smiled and began to follow her companion, feeling a strong sense of hope that they would soon find Xaphira.

In a small room elsewhere in the palace, unbeknownst to either the girl or the young priest, a bespectacled wizard watched the pair dart out of the kitchen through the glass of a small mirror. He smiled and went to tell his employer the news.

D

Your companions have been taken away, hauled out of the forest in great wooden box-wagons,” Shinthala said, seated in the

middle of the great rock, facing the fire pit. “They were bound for the city of Reth itself.”

Everyone began talking at once. Vambran sucked his breath in. At any other time, he would have believed that his soldiers were being treated like any other prisoners of war, and that, in time, they would be released, once the temple funded their ransom. But knowing that Lavant was somehow behind the series of events in the area changed his perceptions dramatically. There was no doubt in his mind that the priest wanted him and Kovrim dead. If what the lieutenant and Shinthala had deduced was true, then the company, and Kovrim, were still in danger.

And now they’re farther out of reach, while I’ve dallied in the woods.

Vambran and Shinthala had returned from their tryst in the forest after highsun, and she had ordered the release of the other members of the Sapphire Crescents. That had caused some consternation among the other druids, especially Edilus, but she had been adamant. Then they had all gathered together upon the great rock, druids and mercenaries together, to decide what must be done.

“I have to get inside the city,” Vambran said then repeated himself loudly to quiet the din of so many voices talking at once. “I have to save my uncle. They will kill him to keep him from revealing what he knows. All of them will be slain to preserve the illusion that we died at sea or in battle, the victims of piracy or simple warfare. I have to go to them.”

Shinthala shook her head. “No,” she said. “You have a greater duty. You must return to Arrabar and let your people know what is happening. You must find proof that Lord Wianar is manipulating these events for his own ends, then you must show the city. Your companions are not as important as the truth.”

“I cannot abandon them,” Vambran said, though inside, a part of him wanted to, just so he could return to Emriana. “I cannot just leave my uncle and my troops to die there. We must find another way.”

“Let us return home,” Adyan said in his drawl. “We can go back to Arrabar and spread the word, and you can go to Reth.”

“No,” Vambran said. “My family needs me, too.”

Adyan shook his head. “We’ll help Em, Vambran, and with your family safe, we can stop this before Wianar marches half of Chondath east. You go to Reth. Six is no better than one against a whole city, but by yourself, you can still save them. Waukeen herself seems to smile on you.”

Vambran looked at Shinthala, who nodded encouragement. “All right,” he said, knowing he could not be in both places at once. “You five return home. I don’t have to tell you to be careful once there. You’re walking into a pit of vipers, it seems.”

Adyan snorted. “And you aren’t?” he said sardonically. “As long as we’ve known you, Lieutenant, you’ve done nothing but lead us into trouble.” Vambran could hear the humor in his sergeant’s voice, and when he looked at the man, Adyan winked.

“You know we’ll find her,” Horial added. “We’ll get to Em in time.”

Vambran took a deep breath and nodded his thanks. “In the meantime,” he said, “I’m going to Reth.”

Arbeenok stood then, walking to the center of the gathering from his spot on the fringe. He looked first at Shinthala, speaking to her in the language of their order. Then he turned to Vambran and said, “I wish to accompany you to the city. My divinations tell me this is right.”

Vambran was taken aback, and when he looked at Shinthala, all she said was, “Arbeenok makes his own trail, even among those of the Enclave. I have learned not to question him, but to trust his visions and know that he will find his own path regardless of my efforts. If he believes he should go with you, I would take that as a boon to your journey.”

“But how will we ever get him inside the walls?” Vambran asked skeptically. “He will not pass for a human, no matter how much clothing we pile on him.”

At that, Shinthala laughed. “You still have much to learn of us, Son of Arrabar. Go and trust that Arbeenok will know a way to succeed.”

Vambran could only shrug. When it was obvious that the lieutenant had accepted Arbeenok’s

proposal, the creature put a hand out to the man. Vambran took it and accepted the handshake.

Once the decision had been made, Shinthala promised Vambran aid from the Enclave, including a number of magical potions and oils that might be of use during both excursions. It did not take long for either group to pack, and soon enough, they were all saying their good-byes.

Shinthala followed Vambran and Arbeenok to the edge of the clearing, away from the rest of the druids and mercenaries. The lieutenant noticed that a look from her sent Arbeenok ahead a few paces, out of earshot. Then she turned Vambran to face her.

“The blessing of your goddess go with you, Son of Arrabar,” she said, smiling wistfully at him. “I’d like to see you again, preferably alive.”

Vambran nodded. “I’ll try to get word back to you soon. If I can free my men, then I—”

Shinthala pressed her fingers against his mouth, quieting him. “I know all that,” she said, “and my prayers go with you for success in stopping this war. But what I meant was that today, in the woods, wasn’t enough.” Her emerald eyes shone brightly at him, and Vambran realized it was a little more than mere lust that made them glow. “Come find me again, warrior, one way or another, when this is over.” Then she turned and sped back along the path, not giving him a chance to answer.

Vambran watched her go, wondering if he would ever get the chance to fulfill that request. Then he turned and caught up with Arbeenok, and they were on their way.

The alaghi, as Arbeenok claimed his kind called themselves, traveled lightly, with little more than what Vambran had seen him carrying that morning. For his part, the lieutenant had changed out of his uniform, which was stored in a satchel he carried, and

he was wearing simple garb, that of a laborer, so as not to draw notice to himself. They spent the rest of the afternoon traveling, though they covered most of the distance by means of a portal that passed between two great oaks. Both trees—the one near the heart of the forest and the one closer to Reth— seemed at first blush to be ancient, lightning-shattered trunks, hollowed out on the inside. But Arbeenok led the lieutenant into one, and just as quickly, they were stepping out of the other. From there, it wasn’t much farther to the border of the woods.