Страница 36 из 85
"And that would require a sorcerer, like Vordana," Stefan replied, his gaze distant.
There was nothing more Wy
"Your replacement was sent by the prince's man," he said to Stefan. "Why didn't someone come to investigate when you never reported for your new duties?"
"Perhaps it was all a lie, and Baron Buscan didn't know. " Stefan pulled the blanket tighter, shaking his head. "And all I did was for nothing but fear."
"That seems unlikely," Magiere said. "Anyway, all that matters is what we can fight."
"Sorcery is not just used upon victims," Wy
"It can be used to expand the powers of the sorcerer's mind. It is the most insidious of the three magics, but it is not what brought Vordana back. To do this, he would also have to be a master of conjury, with power I have never read of. Even in studies with Domin il'Samaud, there were few legends of individuals who mastered and combined all three magics into what is called 'wizardry. "
"Oh, lovely," Leesil groaned. 'Then there's someone else who did this for him."
Magiere's expression hardened as she paced once before the hearth's expanse, tossing her head toward Stefan.
"So, now we decide… whether or not we help a murderer."
Wy
"How dare you? You've no idea what he's suffered. Will you help our people or not?" Her tiny hand remained protectively on her lord's shoulder.
Stefan raised his one hand to cover hers. "Enough. It's all right."
Wy
"We need to discuss this ourselves," Magiere said bluntly. "Alone."
Stefan nodded and stood, heading for the archway. Elena followed him with Geza close behind.
Until leaving Bela on this journey, Wy
"Magiere, you know we can't refuse," she insisted. "Vordana may take his time in torturing Lord Stefan, but he does so through the people of this fief. Sooner or later, he will kill everything here and perhaps move on to another settlement."
"I'm not so sure… about moving on," Magiere said. "And we have no way to find this Vordana. I've sensed nothing since we docked here, and Leesil's topaz has shown no sign."
"Perhaps Vordana is too far off, somewhere else," Wy
"No, he's close," Leesil answered. "With what this lord has told us and what we've seen, he's near enough."
"Could Chap track this thing?" Magiere asked.
The dog barked three times.
"That means maybe, so he is uncertain," Wy
Leesil shook his head. "Wy
"It would be like watching the surface of a lake," she cut in, "when a trough has been gouged somewhere along its shore. The whole surface shows signs of movement in the direction of drainage-in the direction of Vordana. I have some notes from my studies, and I think I can do this much. We have to try. Is this not what you do? Hunt the undead?"
Wy
Magiere closed her eyes in resignation and nodded. That was enough answer for Leesil.
"We'll try it your way, Wy
"I caught that, as well," Magiere said, "but I'm not certain what it means."
Elbows on knees, Leesil folded his hands and leaned his forehead upon them. "A spy… perhaps a scout, someone preparing a foothold for war."
Wy
"Not from outside… from within," Leesil said. "A civil war. If Buscan did send Vordana, then why hasn't he followed up? Unless he can't do so openly. Or it's possible someone else tried to place Vordana here on watch for a reason."
"It's not our concern," Magiere said, though Wy
Chap yipped once, and Wy
"No matter what Elena says," Leesil growled, "that lord is a self-serving bastard. Make him pay until it hurts. And as much as this pains me, make him throw in some horses. That barge isn't going to wait for us, and we'll be back to traveling by land when this is over."
"We'll gather our belongings from the barge in the morning," Magiere said. "We stay on the manor grounds tonight.
It seems to be the only place Vordana doesn't touch, and judging by the change in you and Wy
"Yes," Wy
Magiere picked up her cloak and turned back to Wy
Wy
Chapter 8
L eesil finished the most depressing day of his life. Well, perhaps not the most, but it ranked high in recent memory.
The barge master was surprised that they pla
Magiere hoped to catch Vordana in the forest, but they couldn't count on this, so they spent the morning in Pudiirlatsat getting the lay of the place. Dead-eyed townsfolk and bone-thin animals made Leesil wish they'd never left the barge the night before. Anywhere outside the manor grounds, a nagging exhaustion plagued him. They returned to the manor so he could regain his strength before nightfall, guessing that Vordana could move only at night. Unless Wy
Geza provided them crossbow quarrels, and Leesil prepared a pot of simmering garlic water. The cook, a stout older woman, didn't care for him in her kitchen, and she cast angry glances his way. Leesil offered her his most charming smile without effect. Once the garlic water was ready and partially cooled, he set the quarrels to soaking and asked that she leave them be. He filled flasks with oil and prepared torches, then went to see how Wy
The hall was a pleasant place, if Leesil forgot the outside world that awaited them. The fire roared, and fresh mint tea and bread were on the table, so he helped himself.