Firekeeper Saga - Wolf's Head, Wolf's Heart Part 53

Cold wind swirled in through the window when she opened it to set the birds free. Above the sky was dark, the stars undimmed, for the majority of the city lights had long since been extinguished.

Once, Derian had told her that the Waterlanders believed that the stars held the undying spirits of all who had walked on the earth. These spirits were thought to look down on the living with interest. Sometimes they even granted wishes.

Firekeeper turned her face to the stars and wished with all her heart that tonight's venture would be successful.

Elise saw Grateful Peace's surprise when Firekeeper suggested sending the birds out to scout, but she doubted that anyone else-except possibly the wolf-woman herself-had noticed. She decided that explaining that Firekeeper was really able to talk to animals-and probably being disbelieved for her pains-would waste valuable time.

The thaumaturge also apparently thought that the time for questions was past, for though his lips parted momentarily, they closed again without a word being spoken.

"Let us be at it then, friends," Grateful Peace said, the last word softening what had been a distinctly autocratic tone of voice. "I have shown you the buildings that hold our targets. I have also done my best to tell what you should do when you get inside. Let me emphasize once more that I would prefer that my involvement be minimal."

"Fine," Firekeeper growled to Elise's dismay. "Be this minimal. Let us get on with the hunt. The birds can find us in streets. I have told them to be looking.""Well and good," Grateful Peace replied without any of the pique Elise had feared he would feel.

"However, there is one thing that must be done before you can get on with your hunt. Without a disguise of some sort, you would not go ten feet without being stopped."

"Disguise?" Firekeeper tilted her head to one side in inquiry. "That word... I forget."

Wendee Jay rose as Derian began to explain. Elise turned to the thaumaturge with a question of her own.

"Do we really need disguises, sir?" she asked. "It's not as if we're trying to infiltrate the Granite Tower.

We're simply going in as raiders."

"Night raiders smear blackening on their faces lest the reflection be seen," replied Peace, indicating his own features with a graceful flourish of his long fingers. "In the same fashion, the longer you can pa.s.s for people who belong in Thendulla Lypella, the more time you will have to obtain your objectives.

"Remember," he added seriously, "not only must you get in, you must also get out."

Elise bit her lip. Wendee's return saved her from needing to reply.

"We bought most of these in Gateway, Lord Peace," Wendee said, displaying the bundled robes and the boxed cosmetics, "though I've added some since."

Perhaps in response to Elise's surprised expression, Wendee added: "They're lovely things, Lady Elise, and I thought if we didn't need them here, we'd take them home with us."

Elise patted her hand. "You've done well, Wendee."

Peace was less pleased, but his displeasure was less at Wendee than at the mixed nature of their purchases.

"These," he explained, indicating their Gateway purchases, "are flimsy things-woven expressly for sale to foreigners. You'd never see such in the Earth Spires. These, however," he tapped a few robes, "are of fine quality. Goody Wendee definitely has judgment.

"Together," he concluded, "they are as mismatched as yellow stripes on a stallion."

"We hardly need to make a fashion statement, what?" said Lord Edlin. "Just to get in and out again."

Grateful Peace nodded. "But the mixture will make the getting in, much less the getting out, harder to do.

Still, we shall manage. Happily, Goody Wendee has laid in a large supply of red tones."

Wendee blushed. "I thought they would do for cosmetics when we got home. Much less outlandish than the blues and purples, lovely as those are."

"Whatever your reason," Peace said, "they will serve well. The working costume in the research tower is a red-painted face and grey robe-not a deep grey, a pale shade close to that of undyed material."

"Why?" asked Derian, looking as if he was slightly surprised to hear himself asking.

"Because, young counselor," Peace replied, "the red is striking-a visual warning even to peripheral vision that someone else is near. The paint or stain is laid on thinly enough that facial expressions can be easily read through the color to help eliminate misunderstanding."I wonder, Elise thought, if that means the rest of the time they actively court misunderstanding?

"Grey robes," Peace continued, "are easily cleaned or at least easily redyed. Now, my thought is to disguise those of you who are going in as researchers. Although the teams contain many important people, each sodality has sent over lesser members to do the scut work-sweeping up, grinding components, and the like. No one can be said to know everyone, so you should pa.s.s-at least for a time."

"Two questions," Derian said, raising his fingers. "One, you say 'those of you who are going in.' Are you suggesting we leave someone behind?"

Peace shook his head.

"Not precisely behind," he said. "Rather, I suggest that one or two of your number be delegated to pack your belongings and clear out of this house. Doctor?"

"Yes?"

"Have you the means to drug your landlady and her servants?"

Elise, knowing Doc's strict medical ethics, pivoted to look at him, ready to step in before he could say something too damaging to their cause.

The indignation she expected to find on his hawk-nosed features was not there. Instead, Sir Jared was nodding agreement and understanding. Something about his expression reminded her that he was a cousin to Earl Kestrel-a man whose devotion to scheming was as sincere as it was efficient.

Jared said, "I can do it more easily if they'll drink what I have. Wendee, did you notice if Hasamemorri was awake when you went to get the costuming supplies?"

"She was," Wendee said, looking up from where she had been sorting the reds from the other colors. "I heard her speaking to her maid about fetching a bit more firewood."

Wendee's blue eyes twinkled with wicked glee.

"I wouldn't be surprised if she heard our late caller arrive and is staying awake deliberately in hopes of learning what emergency has brought him."

"Very good," Doc said. "When you can tear yourself from your labors, come with me. I think we'll be sending them up some refreshments along with our apologies for the disturbance."

"Wait," Derian said. "I mean, do you think we should leave Dragon's Breath tonight?"

"That's right," Peace replied a touch acidly. "Surely you don't think that if you are successful Apheros will wait until morning to call and ask what you have been about?"

Derian sighed. "No, I suppose not. Who should stay to clear us out of here?"

"Pause and think on that," Peace advised. "What was your other question?"

To Elise's astonishment, Derian looked positively uncomfortable.

"The disguises," he muttered.

"Yes?""About them," Derian said. "Do they include shaving our heads?"

Even before the thaumaturge replied, Elise knew what the answer would be.

What will my mother think?

"Of course," Grateful Peace replied. "Only peasants wear all their hair-and usually only those who must labor out-of-doors. It is quite out of fashion among the sodalities to wear front hair."

There was a startled silence. Somehow, even when everyone had been considering disguises earlier on, no one had antic.i.p.ated this contingency.

Wendee said slowly. "In the theater, we wore false head-fronts made from waxed cloth, but they had to be custom-fitted and even so they looked right fake up close."

Running her hand over her already ragged haircut, Firekeeper gave a hoa.r.s.e chuckle.

"Never will I have a good coat," she said with a rueful smile. "That I were a wolf!"

Wanting a moment to adjust to this new inevitability, Elise returned to the matter raised by Derian's first question.

"Who of us shall stay and who shall go?" she asked.

"I go," Firekeeper said firmly. "And Blind Seer with me. From what this Grateful Peace say, Blind Seer will have some places to hide and if he do not..."

She shrugged.

"The power of the wolf," Grateful Peace replied, "is certainly worth some risk. How many among you speak our language?"

"I do," Elise said, her hand moving involuntarily to touch her hair. "And Wendee does as well."

"I've picked up a little over the last few days," Derian said, "but it's spotty."

Grateful Peace tugged at the snowy length of his white braid.

"I suggest that both of the ladies go, then," he said. "Being able to understand what you hear may be more valuable than any skill with weapons."

"All ladies," Firekeeper said, indicating herself.

"That," the thaumaturge said with a trace of a sigh, "has already been settled."

"I say!" protested Edlin. "We can't send in three ladies without a man to protect them. It just isn't done!"

Elise was suddenly furious-or maybe she was just scared, but it certainly felt like fury.

"Would you say the same to Princess Sapphire?" she asked. "d.u.c.h.ess Merlin commanded troops during the final battle of King Allister's War. Where were you?"

She felt some satisfaction when Edlin gaped at her, but unhappily the young lord recovered quickly.

"They are trained in the arts of war," Edlin retorted, "but I recall that you won't even hawk!""Hopefully," Doc cut in, "this will remain a raid and never need the arts of war. Firekeeper, however, will not have trouble if fighting is needed. What is your training in that area, Wendee?"

Wendee brushed her hands across her skirts, the very picture of efficiency.

"I've had some training with both knife and sword," she replied coolly. Then her expression grew worried, "Though I must admit that I am rusty, and I've never really been in battle."

Doc nodded and turned to Edlin.

"So you see, cousin," he said. "These ladies are not the frail flowers you had thought. Lady Elise may not have a warrior's training, but I know from experience that she will not faint at the sight of blood."

Elise had her indignation under control now, so when she spoke to Edlin it was in a much gentler tone.

"You're right, Edlin, I don't care for blood sport, but I can use a bow. What descendant of Purcel Archer could escape learning that? I doubt that skill will be needed, but I promise to try to stay with what I do best."

Edlin looked unhappier still when Doc took up the thread again.

"In any case," he said, "we will not be sending in the three female members of our party alone but for the wolf. I will be going with them. Not only have I seen my share of combat, but a healer should be where harm may happen. That leaves you and Derian to get our gear together and outside city limits."

"Both of us!" Edlin protested. "I say!"

Elise noted that Derian was fingering his forehead, an expression equal parts embarra.s.sment and relief on his features.

"Doc's right, Lord Edlin," he said. "We need to move out all those horses and mules-not to mention having to pack and load our gear. That almost exceeds what I would expect of two men. It would be impossible for one-especially since we will probably have only a few hours. Isn't that right, Lord Peace?"

Grateful Peace nodded solemnly.

"I fear so. You may begin while we start costuming-but hold. Are either of you young men skilled with a razor?"

Derian shrugged. "Enough to sc.r.a.pe my chin."

Edlin nodded. "About the same, I'm afraid."

Laughing, Elise cut in.

"No need to keep these men from their tasks, sir. I've learned to shave well in preparing patients for Sir Jared."

"Very good."

They split then into three groups: Doc and Wendee to prepare the drugged tea so that Hasamemorri and her maids could not comment on their leaving and possibly delay them; Derian and Edlin (still grumbling) to begin packing; the remainder to begin transforming themselves into some believable facsimile of New Kelvinese.The birds returned just as Grateful Peace was about to shave Elise's head. He had shaved Sir Jared's head first, all the while verbally supervising Wendee's makeup. Now Wendee, her cosmetics in place but for the final coat over her yet unshaved head, was applying Firekeeper's paint.

Elise had taken on shaving Firekeeper, for the wolf-woman had refused to let a stranger holding something as sharp as a razor come close to her. The shaving had been followed by a general trim, for Firekeeper had insisted on her back hair being trimmed as well-a thing that Grateful Peace had thought wise, noting politely that no one would voluntarily wear such a ragged coiffure.

Her face partially painted, clad still in her vest and trousers, when a rap came on the gla.s.s Firekeeper rose from where Wendee was applying the red paint to her face and opened the window. Falcon followed by crow fluttered in and took their respective perches.

Elation faced the wolf-woman full on with one gold-rimmed eye and squawked something suspiciously like laughter. In reply, Firekeeper spat into the fire.

"She really does understand them, doesn't she?" Grateful Peace commented as he lifted the razor.

Trying to ignore the gentle tug of the razor against her hair-the blade was so sharp that what she felt was more a vibration than an actual cutting-Elise held her head very still as she answered: "She does, and they do her. I think they understand all of us somewhat, but that is because they have learned our language while Firekeeper speaks theirs."

"Do you understand them?"

Elise remembered not to shake her head.

"No, not any more than people usually understand animals. Blind Seer and Elation seem to be trying to learn to communicate directly with us through gesture-nodding or shaking their heads-though with the falcon the motion involves the entire body."

"Interesting."

The New Kelvinese fell silent then, concentrating on his delicate task. Elise sat frozen, dreading the seemingly inevitable nick of razor against her scalp. It never came.