Living With Ghosts Part 19

"Better annoyed than afraid." Leladrien's expression shifted two degrees toward the smug. "And I'm succeeding so far, aren't I?"

Joyain came to a stop halfway down the room. "That isn't the point."

"It isn't?"

"No." Joyain caught himself beginning to pace again. "And, moreover, I don't appreciate your suggestion that I'm scared."

"Did I suggest that?"

"Yes."

Leladrien looked at the cleaned pistol thoughtfully. "You're sure? I have a pretty clear memory of calling you annoyed. And you are annoyed."

"Yes, but . . ." Sighing, Joyain looked at his friend. "You're supposed to help me."

"I know." Leladrien smiled. "And it seemed to me that the best way would be to take your mind off it. Of course, if you'd rather worry . . ."

"Not really." Joyain made a deliberate decision and sat down. "What time is it?"

"Nearly eight."

"Two hours . . . How will we get into the Winter Gardens?"

"Whatsisname has access. Lord of South Marr. He's got a contact in the watch. It's all arranged."

"Good." Joyain looked at his boots. "That's all right, then."

Leladrien hesitated. "Jean . . . if something does go wrong . . . is there a letter you want delivered?"

"No." Joyain had considered writing to his family and rejected the notion. Better to leave it impersonal. That way, fewer questions would be asked. And as for Iareth Yscoithi . . . "Thanks, Lelien."

"My pleasure." Outside, a clock struck the quarter hour. Joyain sighed again. Leladrien said, "Look, let's go and get some breakfast."

"I'm not hungry."

"No, I suppose not." Leladrien smiled. "But I am. Come on."

Joyain shrugged and complied.

"All set?" Thiercelin hoped he sounded more cheerful than he felt. It was horribly cold, and the mist still had not lifted, even though it was now half past nine. Not that anyone could tell that, from the state of Maldurel's sitting room. The air was still smoky from the fire, and the candles had yet to be changed.

Maldurel regarded him with a jaundiced air. "Who knows?" he said. "At this hour."

"You should, for one. Looks as if you've been up all night." Thiercelin leaned on the mantel. "Or are you just getting old, Mal?"

"Hmmph," said Maldurel. And then, "What kind of a time d'you call this, anyway?"

"Breakfast time," said Thiercelin, "usually."

"What? You're getting staid, Thierry! Breakfast before noon! I make it a point never to rise before eleven-thirty."

"So I see."

Maldurel ignored him. "It's bad for the const.i.tution. Bad for the complexion. You might," and he yawned, "have fixed this little affaire for a reasonable hour."

"You chose the time," Thiercelin said, stung.

Again, Maldurel ignored him. "Like Valdin."

"I have the clearest recollection," said Thiercelin, "that Valdin had a reprehensible predilection for fighting at dawn."

"Nothing wrong with that. Good sense, in fact. Get it over with before going to bed. Gets it out of the system. No lying awake worrying. No inconvenience to the seconds."

"But you haven't been to bed yet," Thiercelin said, outraged, "so . . ."

"That's not the point." Maldurel climbed to his feet. "I didn't expect you to appreciate it. Just like Valdin.

b.l.o.o.d.y maniacs, the pair of you." Thiercelin bowed. "Enchanted. Shall we go?" "May as well, I suppose." Maldurel's valet brought in his cloak. "Will this take long, d'you think? I have an appointment at two and I shall have to get ready."

Thiercelin said, "I doubt even I can manage to prolong one duel for four hours."

"Good."

The valet ushered them out the door. Silence fell as they began to make their way along the street. At the first corner, Thiercelin said, "Do you have the key to the gardens?"

"Of course." Maldurel patted his pocket. "Picked it up last night."

"Right."

Again, there was silence. About halfway there, Maldurel said, "What's it about, then?"

Thiercelin's mind was elsewhere. He said, "What?" "I said," said Maldurel, "what's it about? This duel."

"Oh, that. A matter of diplomatic protocol."

"What?" Maldurel seemed to find the information indigestible. "What d'you want to go fighting about that for? Hardly seems very significant."

"It seemed quite important at the time."

"Oh. You were drunk, then." Maldurel considered. "Funny thing, that. Reminds me of something I meant to tell you."

"What?" said Thiercelin, who was beginning to feel rather lost.

"I'm coming to that."

"What are you talking about, Mal?"

"What?" They stopped, and stared at one another.

Rather defensively, Thiercelin said, "I wasn't drunk."

"What?" said Maldurel. And then, "Oh, then. I was."

"You were what?"

"Drunk."

"You weren't there."

"Yes I was. Stands to reason I was. Man can't see a thing if he isn't there, can he? That's only sense."

"I think," said Thiercelin, "that we'd better start this conversation again. Where were you drunk and when; and why are you telling me about it?"

Maldurel wore the expression of a man at the extreme of patience. "A sennight since. At the Rose Palace. It was a funny thing. Thought it might interest you. Gave me quite a turn, or at least I expect it would have done if I'd been sober."

Thiercelin put his head in his hands and wailed. "Will you please make sense?"

Maldurel looked at him. "Nothing to tear your lace about. As I said, I was drunk. It was queer, though. I was on my way home, minding my own business, and not thinking about much. And there he was. Large as life. Same b.l.o.o.d.y sneer on his face, and lurking about in corners trying to give a man a start. Typical, if you ask me."

"Mal, who are you talking about?"

Maldurel sounded like a man explaining himself to an idiot. "Valdin, who else? The emperor of Tarnaroq?"

"You saw Valdin?"

"Yes. I just said so, didn't I?"

"Valdin himself? Near the Rose Palace? In the aisle?"

"Yes. But I was drunk. Nothing to get so excited about, Thierry. People are always seeing things when they're drunk. My cousin saw a dancing cow once in the fish market. At least he thought he did."

Thiercelin cut him off. "Did he say anything?"

"The cow? How should I . . . ?"

"No, Valdin, idiot!"

"I see," said Maldurel, "no cause for abuse." And then, more kindly, "But I suppose you're wound up about this duel. He did, actually."

"What?"

"What?"

"What did he say?"

Maldurel looked faintly affronted. Carefully, he quoted, " 'Still hungover, Mal?' "

Thiercelin was still laughing when they reached the Winter Gardens.

His opponent awaited him outside the gate, together with his second. Suddenly sober, Thiercelin exchanged bows. Then he looked at Maldurel.

Maldurel gazed back at him. "What, Thierry?"

"The key?"

"Oh, yes. Of course." Maldurel began to rummage through his pockets. The two army officers were silent. Uncomfortable, Thiercelin shuffled, then pretended to be cold. The opposing second caught his eye and smiled wryly.

He said, "Cold enough, for autumn."

"Yes," Thiercelin said. "I hate to think what the winter will be like."

"Worse, I should think," said Maldurel. And then, "Aha!" He grinned broadly and brandished a large bra.s.s key. "Got it! Well, gentlemen, shall we go in?"

It was still misty. The garden, sloping down to the river, was empty, lawns half hidden in fog. It had a halfkempt air. The dead leaves had not been raked away and moss had begun to colonize the gravel paths. Vapor coiled about the tree boughs. Thiercelin shivered a little. The seconds were examining the guns; his opponent had wandered away somewhat and stood staring into the distance. Against his will, Thiercelin remembered Valdarrien, anger-lost and vital, sword light in his hands under these same trees. The gra.s.s was damp today. That was going to be a nuisance. How young they had been, the first time Valdin fought here. Ten years ago, maybe twelve. The air was moist, unkindly warm. Thiercelin inhaled and tasted honeysuckle. Valdin had been half-drunk, almost laughing as he fought, barefoot on the spring gra.s.s. Thiercelin could not, for the life of him, picture the face of the other man involved. The affair had been friendly, to first blood only, and there had been a large and amicable breakfast afterward, by the riverside. The other man had fallen at one point; that was it. Thiercelin could see Valdarrien's half-smile as he helped the other up. It had to have been about cards, then. Valdarrien had always been blase about money. That duel had been fought closer to the river, down at the bottom of the wood. Thiercelin remembered the feel of bark at his back as he leaned on a tree to watch the sport. The other second, a young provincial, had watched with him, wide-eyed with delight and shock. Even then, he had had the name for it, nineteen-year-old, reckless Valdin, the troublemaker, the duelist, laughing on that spring morning on the river's edge. Thiercelin looked away through the fog-bound trees, as if he might somehow see through them into that happier past.

There was nothing there, save mist and garden. He sighed and turned away.

His companions were ready for him. Maldurel coughed and looked serious. Thiercelin raised his brows and waited. Maldurel frowned. "Drown it, Thierry! Some of us are trying to do this properly."

"Sorry," said Thiercelin, meekly.

"Bad as Valdin. Worse. Leastways, he usually paid attention when people waited for him." Thiercelin looked down. "Right, then," Maldurel's tone turned formal. "Monseigneur of Sannazar, Lieutenant Lievrier, you are here to answer to one another in a matter of honor. If either of you wishes to reconsider or retract, please do so now." There was a pause. Thiercelin looked at Joyain, who stood blank-faced. It had been a part of their tacit agreement, long ago, that dueling was Valdarrien's province and that Thiercelin held it foolish. Yet here he was on the edge of the same abyss. He risked his life. He risked his relationship with Yvelliane. Perhaps he had already damaged the latter beyond repair. Opposite him, Joyain looked down briefly, then raised his head and shook it. Thiercelin paused, then did likewise.

Maldurel looked slightly disappointed. "Oh. Well, then . . ."

The other second said, "The weapons."

"Of course." Maldurel held them out for inspection by the princ.i.p.als. "If you gentlemen would care to make your selection? Or should you shake hands first?" Maldurel looked at the other second, who shrugged.

"Shake hands, choose pistols, walk ten paces, turn and fire. Is that so much to remember, Mal?" The voice came from amidst the mist-bound trees. Three of the four men turned toward it, expressions between outrage and confusion. Thiercelin did not dare look. Instead, he glanced at his opponent. Joyain had gone white.

Maldurel said, "That's nice, coming from you!" And then, as he began to realize what he was seeing, "River bless!"

Thiercelin turned. Against a nearby tree, a slender figure leaned, watching them. Mist swirled about him; he seemed to be smiling. Thiercelin gulped thick air and said, "You can't do this, Valdin."

"Clearly, I can." Valdarrien's tone was light and a little sarcastic. "Haven't we discussed that before?" Thiercelin was silent. "But don't let me interrupt you. You were about to shake hands with this gentleman. What are you fighting about, anyway?"

"None of your drowned business." Thiercelin realized that he was in effect bickering with a ghost and sighed. He looked across at Joyain. "I'm sorry. This is a fiasco."

Joyain jumped. His gaze did not leave Valdarrien. He said, "What?"

"I," said Maldurel, who appeared to be feeling ignored, "have just been insulted by a dead person, and you only call it a fiasco. Thierry, I hardly think . . ."

Joyain tore his eyes away and looked at Thiercelin. He said, "Monseigneur, you may be unaware that this duel is in breach of military regulations. Under the circ.u.mstances, perhaps we . . ."

Thiercelin said, "It was my fault. I behaved poorly. I offer you my unreserved apologies." He bowed. "And I regret this disturbance." Behind him, he heard Valdarrien snort. Ignoring him, he added, "My cousin is too young to be aware that certain jokes lack taste. I'll ensure it doesn't happen again." Daring Valdarrien to make anything of this, he held a hand out to Joyain. The latter hesitated, took it in an uncertain grip.

Joyain looked back into the trees. Rather shakily, he said, "A joke?"