Sethra Lavode (Viscount of Adrilankha) (33 page)

“How, better that we must delay our vengeance against the Yendi and the Tiassa?”

“Exactly.”

“For what reason?”

“Shall I explain, Illista?”

“I will be grateful if you do, for you must know that I do not understand why it should be better.”

“Because, my love, killing them is not the pleasure.”

“It is not? And yet—”

“On the contrary, killing them ends the pleasure.”

“You think so?”

“Entirely. The pleasure comes in two places: first, in the planning and preparation, and next, above all, that delicious moment when your enemy realizes that death is inevitable—that he is already dead, but is still aware of it. To extend that moment as long as possible, that is the real goal. I should like it to last a hundred years. A thousand years. I should like it to never end.”

Illista frowned and considered this. “There is a great deal of truth in what you say, Grita.”

“You perceive, I have spent many years considering the matter.”

“And yet, we must kill them eventually.”

Grita sighed. “I know. And it is difficult to get satisfactory
vengeance on a Dzur in any case—even when they know they are about to die, they will not respond properly, which robs the moment of its sweetness.”

“Do you know, that is true.”

“Yes.”

“I hate them.”

“Yes.”

“Well then, Illista, should we dispose of this Dzur and start over?”

The Phoenix considered this, then said, “I have no interest in simply cutting her throat and being done with it. I want my vengeance—on her, as well as on the others.”

“And yet, we have just observed how difficult it is in the case of a Dzur.”

Illista frowned. “Difficult—but perhaps not impossible, my dear Grita.”

“Have you an idea?”

“Nearly.”

“Let us hear it then. You know that I adore your suggestions.”

“You are a very complaisant conspirator, Grita.”

“We are a good team.”

“Oh, as to that, we shall know more when our vengeance is complete.”

“That is certainly true.”

“And, to that end—”

“Yes, to that end, let us hear your idea.”

“Shall I tell you now?”

“At once! Can’t you see I am mad to know?”

“Very well, this is it: The way to torment a Dzur is not to kill the Dzur, but rather, to kill the Dzur’s friends.”

“Oh!”

“While the Dzur watches!”

“Oh, oh!”

“Especially if the friend dies attempting to rescue the Dzur!”

“Illista, you are adorable!”

“So then, you like my plan?”

“It is magnificent!”

“I am glad you think so.”

“And I can even improve upon it.”

“Can you indeed? Well, in truth, that doesn’t astonish me. Is it a good improvement?”

“You will see.”

“Let us see then.”

“By tormenting the Dzur, we can be all the more certain the friend—”

“That is to say, the Lyorn—”

“—charges in blindly. That is, if he sees his friend the Dzur being tortured, well, he will not hesitate.”

“Perfect!”

“Then, let us make preparations to receive this Lyorn.”

“And preparations as well to torture the Dzur. Apropos—”

“Well?”

“What method of torture would you recommend?”

“Well, we may as well do something practical.”

“Oh, I am in favor of practicality. But, what do you mean?”

“I am referring to those others who will not be appearing yet.”

“What about them?”

“Our Lyorn may not have told them where we are holding the Dzur.”

“That is true! And does your idea address this issue?”

“You will see.”

“What, then, is your idea?”

“I propose that we send Tazendra back to her friends.”

“How, send her back?”

“Or, rather, a part of her.”

“Ah! Ah!”

“Say, for example, an ear.”

“Oh, yes. An ear. Dzurlords have such distinctive ears.”

“Yes. And upon the packaging that contains the ear, well, we can write, in words simple enough for the meanest understanding, a description of where we are, in case our Lyorn has failed to communicate this intelligence to his friends. This will serve to also make certain that there is no possible doubt about whether they can find us.”

“Grita, your ideas are brilliant. I tell you so.”

Grita bowed, and said, “And, after that, if they do not appear for her—”

“Well?”

“Why, then we will send them another ear.”

“You perceive that, at this rate, she will soon run out of ears.”

“Well, but that is of no importance.”

“It isn’t?”

“Not in the least. You perceive, she has still a nose. And eyes. And, unless I am mistaken, she has, in addition, a full complement of fingers and toes.”

“You are right about that.”

“So then?”

“That is a total of twenty-five packages.”

“I cannot fault your arithmetic.”

“Oh, I have always been skilled in that field.”

“I am convinced of it.”

“Twenty-five should prove sufficient, I think.”

“Oh, I am convinced of that, too. We will not need so many, but it cannot hurt to have spares.”

“Then what do you think?”

“Of your plan?”

“Yes.”

“It is a splendid idea.”

“Yes. First we will awaken her, but leave the binding spell in place.”

“Very well. And after?”

“After that, we will wait for our Lyorn.”

“I agree. Next?”

“Once he is there, it will be time to very quickly release the binding spell.”

“Yes. And once we have done that, why, we will play the part of the battlefield surgeon.”

“Exactly.”

“I will sharpen the knife.”

“Very good.”

The first thing that crossed Tazendra’s mind as she awoke was the reflection that she had been asleep for a long time. Then her memory began to return—walking into her home, the sudden explosions behind her, the feeling of a spell penetrating her defenses, and the sudden dizziness. And, as her memories came back to her, she realized that she was not alone, but, on the contrary, there were two individuals
standing over her. She looked from one to the other, then said, “Hello Madam Grita or Orlaan, or whatever your name is. I hope I find you well.”

“Well enough,” said Grita.

“And, you, madam, look familiar. You are—?”

“Illista.”

“Ah yes. It comes back. So, then, the two of you are together? I trust you will forgive the insult when I tell you that I find this entirely appropriate. Indeed, it is rare that anything falls out so well.”

“We are together,” said Illista, bowing. “Just as you will soon be, if I may use the expression, apart.”

“Indeed?” said Tazendra, yawning. “You will forgive me if I am a little weary after my long sleep. Otherwise, you may be certain, I should display more emotion.”

“Oh, we don’t mind,” said Illista. “No doubt, you will display more emotion presently.”

“No doubt. How long have I been asleep?”

“Not long. Less than a year.”

“No wonder I feel so extraordinarily well rested.”

“Are you prepared?” said Illista.

“For what?”

“I was speaking to my associate.”

“I beg your pardon.”

“I am prepared,” said Grita. “As soon as we hear the chime, I will be ready to begin.”

“Very well,” said Illista. “But, when that happens, you must work quickly. You perceive, once I release the binding, she will be able to move.”

“Oh,” said Tazendra, “am I unable to move?”

“How,” said Grita, “you hadn’t noticed?”

“I have had no occasion to try,” lied Tazendra.

“Try now, if you’d like,” said Grita.

“No, madam, I have no reason not to believe you. After all, you would surely not lie; that might compromise your honor.”

“Is the knife sharp?” asked Illista of Grita.

Grita held it aloft. “It is.”

“Good then.”

“I am ready when you are.”

“What am I to lose?” asked Tazendra.

“Everything,” said Grita.

“All at once?” asked Tazendra in a tone of idle curiosity.

“No, we are beginning with your left ear.”

“Ah. Splendid. I have never liked that one. Indeed, I have often considered removing it myself.”

“We are pleased to be able to perform this service for you.”

“Well, why do you not begin?”

“Oh, we will in a moment, I assure you. We are only waiting for a guest.”

“Oh, a guest. Well, I understand that you might wish to save the entertainment until your guest has arrived.”

At that moment, there was a sort of chime from near the mouth of the cave.

“That must be your guest now,” said Tazendra complacently.

Sliding carefully past the large black emptiness to which we referred earlier, Grita made her cautious way to the front of the cave.

“Well?” called Illista.

“It is only a Teckla, come to watch.”

“To watch?”

“Well, at any rate, he has brought his own chair.”

“Mica!” called Tazendra.

“Mistress? You are alive!”

“Nearly,” said the Dzur.

“Who is this?” demanded Illista.

“My lackey. But, Mica, how did you find me?”

“There was a spot marked on the map in your study.”

“Pah. I never make marks on maps.”

“Exactly,” said Mica, bowing.

“Well, and so you knew where I was. Still, how did you find the cave?”

“My lady, you may recall, I have been in this cave before, only then it was not so deep. When I came up the mountain and didn’t see you, well, I thought of this cave at once.”

Tazendra frowned. “But, when I saw you last, you were at Dzur Mountain!”

“The Enchantress suggested I return to Daavya to find you.”

“How, she did?”

“She not only suggested it, but sent me there as well.”

“But then, you have walked all the way here from Daavya?”

“Oh, I have become skilled at walking.”

“That is enough of this conversation,” said Grita. “You, Teckla, may watch, if you like, but do not speak. We are still awaiting another guest.”

“It is true, what my lackey says,” said Tazendra, addressing Illista. “You seem to have dug out this cave; it did not used to be so deep.”

“And a good piece of work, was it not?” said Illista.

“Why, I must admit it was, although I cannot imagine why.”

“What, you cannot guess?”

“You perceive, I have never been a good at guessing.”

“I believe that,” said Grita, who at this point returned holding Mica by the ear. “Put your chair there, and sit on it, and watch,” she instructed the Teckla.

“I will do so, only—”

“Well?”

“It is not a chair, it is a bar-stool.”

“Sit down and keep silent.”

Mica shrugged and obeyed.

“To answer your question,” said Grita, “for I have no objection to satisfying your curiosity, it is that we needed more space, and so we created it. It wasn’t difficult.”

“Well, but, if I may ask—”

“Oh, certainly,” said Illista. “Ask anything you wish.”

“Why make this cave bigger, instead of finding one already that large?”

“Why, because of its properties,” said Grita.

“This cave has properties?”

“Certainly. You must be aware of what happened here.”

“Well, we fought a skirmish here.”

“Well, but what else happened?”

“After the skirmish—”

“Yes?”

“We fought a larger skirmish.”

“That is true. And what else?” prompted Grita.

“Well,” said Tazendra, considering, “this is where we met with Her Majesty.”

“Yes, exactly. Here is where you met the charming lady with the Orb.”

“So then?”

“Do you know where she had been before she emerged in the cave?”

“Why, it never crossed my mind to ask her.”

“Can you not deduce it?”

“Oh, at deduction I am even worse than guessing.”

“Then, shall I tell you?”

“I confess, I would like to know.”

“Before being in the cave, she was in the Halls of Judgment.”

“How, was she?”

“Why yes, that is where she acquired the Orb.”

“It is true she had the Orb.”

“So, there you have it.”

Tazendra frowned. “And so—?”

“And so, that indicates this cave has certain specific and interesting properties. You must understand, it is not everywhere in the Empire from which one can appear from the Halls of Judgment.”

“It is not?”

“Had you thought it was?”

“In all truth, well, I had never given it a thought.”

“Believe me, there are only certain places which have that arcane pathway.”

“I believe you, madam.”

“So much the better, because now you understand why we used this cave.”

“Perfectly, only—”

“Yes?”

“Why do you wish to go to the Halls of Judgment?”

“Oh, we don’t,” said Illista. “Moreover, we cannot; the connection only works in one direction. This is a place from which one can emerge from the Halls, but one can only get there from Deathgate.”

“Ah, well, I comprehend. But then, if you are not going to the Halls of Judgment, well, why did you require the properties of this cave?”

“Why else, but to provide access to a Jenoine.”

“A Jenoine?”

“Certainly. His Majesty, Kâna, requires one to neutralize the
powers of the Orb, and, at the same time, we required one to permit us to use these spells with which we intend to dispatch all of your friends.”

“Well, but to permit a Jenoine access to our world—”

“What of it?”

“I cannot but consider it a bad idea.”

“Oh, you need not fear. After you and your friends are dead, and the Orb is in our hands, well, we will banish it once more. You perceive, it is not fully here, it has only been given a certain opening, if you will, which permits some of its powers to manifest.”

“Well, but what if your friends fail to take the Orb, and my friends and I slaughter you?”

“Oh, that will not happen.”

“Yet, if it does?”

“Why then, being dead, you perceive that I shall not be concerned with what the Jenoine does.”

“Yes,” said Tazendra, “I understand that you might see it that way. And yet—”