Queen's Hunt Part 14

She smiled at their captive, keeping her satisfaction deeply buried. "You do not need to speak. I know my information is correct. Now for my questions. You were a prisoner. Did a man named Lord Markus Khandarr question you? He is tall and thin, his hair is gray. He is a mage. Don't lie. If he spoke with the other prisoners, he would not neglect you. Tell me what happened. Let her speak," she said to Galena.

As Galena relaxed her hold, the woman swallowed audibly. Her irises, wide in the dim light, contracted as she turned toward Ilse and the candlelight. "Who are you?"

Her voice was low, rough. She spoke Veraenen with a lilting intonation.

"My name isn't important," Ilse said. "Answer my question."

Silence.

"Do you wish me to send for Lord Khandarr? Galena-"

"No!" The woman made a convulsive movement. "No. Please."

"Speak, then. Your name?"

A pause. "Valara Baussay."

Ilse suspected the woman possessed quite a few more names. She had not admitted to a t.i.tle either, but those omissions might be caution, not outright lies.

"You came from Morenniou. Are you a member of their court?"

Another pause. "Yes."

Her tone sounded high, restrained. Nothing close to natural. But then, this was no normal conversation. "Tell me what happened between you and Lord Khandarr," Ilse said. "Tell me everything. The truth, or I send you back to prison."

Valara Baussay closed her eyes. The pulse at her temple and throat beat visibly faster. Arranging her lies? Reviewing a horrifying memory?

"It was Leos Dzavek," she said at last. "He sent ships to invade my homeland. We have only a small army, and it's scattered around our islands, but we do have guards at the castle. They were not enough. The soldiers took the castle and murdered my ... murdered everyone at court. The king. His councillors. Everyone."

"Except you."

"I was to be a hostage." Her voice sank into a bitter whisper.

"Why?"

Valara's eyes opened. They were dark, so dark a brown they appeared black. Slight folds at the corner of her eyelids were like a brush from the artist's thumb, softening an otherwise sharp-featured face. Again the similarity to Raul Kosenmark struck Ilse-the lines and angles an echo of those old portraits from the empire days. Valara Baussay was not a beautiful woman by ordinary standards, but hers was a face not easily overlooked or forgotten.

"He came for the jewel," she said. "Lir's jewel. He did not find it. So he left an army behind to savage the kingdom until he did."

"And Markus Khandarr knows this?"

"No. But I could not risk his questioning me again."

Ilse wished she could have witnessed this interview between Valara Baussay and Markus Khandarr. She wondered what had transpired afterward and what means Valara used to escape the prison. Too many questions. She could not ask them all tonight, only the most important ones. "Where is the jewel, then?"

Those bright dark eyes closed, and Valara's face pinched in remembered pain. "Home. That is why I must go home. As quickly as I can. Don't you see?"

Her voice broke on the last word. She was trembling. Not with terror, though. Valara Baussay was more than simply desperate. She spoke as though she were the only one who could save ...

Ilse's breath went still with insight. "You. Your father was the king. You are the heir. The queen."

Galena made an astonished noise. Valara's expression smoothed to a blank.

"It's true," Ilse went on, more confident now. "With you as his hostage, Leos Dzavek can threaten all of Morenniou until he gains the jewel."

It explained so much. The mysterious fleet sent into the east. Their almost immediate return a few days after the first sighting. She rapidly reviewed all she knew of Leos Dzavek and Karovin politics. A strong king who held absolute control for four hundred years. A council fractured by that knowledge and their own agendas. She knew, with certainty, that Raul would have no success in forming an alliance abroad.

We must do the work ourselves.

She laid the knife aside. "I can help you. Galena, let her go."

"No," Galena said. "You can't trust her."

"Trust is a gift. You cannot ask a bondage price for it."

Valara's eyes blinked open, and she stared hard at Ilse. It was not a warm, open gaze. Those great eyes held secrets behind secrets. She will lie to me, Ilse thought. I cannot trust her at all, but I have no choice. I cannot allow Markus Khandarr to learn about Morenniou's jewel.

"I have a friend," she said softly. "A powerful friend. He has great influence in Veraene-unofficial influence. You must speak with him, and explain your situation. There is one requirement. He will want to know more about your connection with Leos Dzavek."

Another pause. Then, "Does your friend want the jewel?"

Ah. Here was the heart of the matter. The truth was simple enough. Almost too simple for a royal princess used to the intrigues of court.

"He wants peace," Ilse said. "Our king insists on war. The fewer weapons he and Leos Dzavek hold, the more likely my friend can achieve his goal."

She met Valara's gaze steadily, willing the other woman to trust. Moments were sliding through the hourgla.s.s. If they delayed too long, it wouldn't matter what Valara believed. Galena gave a whispering sigh, as if she, too, were calculating the time.

Finally Valara said, "So you will help me get away from Osterling Keep? To meet with your friend?"

"Yes."

"No," Galena said. "Ilse, you promised to talk to her. Ask her questions. You didn't say anything about helping her to escape. That's treason."

"I know," Ilse said quietly. "I can't expect you to-"

A soft rapping interrupted them. Galena started to her feet, knife held ready. Ilse motioned for her to stop. "Go into my bedroom," she whispered. When Galena frowned, she added, "Do it. Unless you want to explain yourself to the house guards, and after them, Lord Joannis."

Galena scowled, but she lowered the knife. She and Valara hurried into Ilse's bedroom and eased the door shut. Ilse waited, hoping her unwanted visitor would leave, but another knock sounded, louder this time. "Ilse? You're awake. I know it."

Alesso. Ilse cursed softly. Anyone else she could easily send away without an explanation. She went to the door and opened it a crack.

He was little more than a shadow and a scent in the darkness, but she caught the tension in his att.i.tude. "You have visitors," he said softly. "And before you deny it, I saw you admit them through the side door. Or rather, you admitted one visitor and the two of you carried the other. Let me in, or I will cry to the watch that robbers have invaded your rooms."

This was no bluff. He would do it. Ilse stood aside and motioned for him to enter. Alesso glided into the room, glancing to either side. His gaze paused at the lit candles, the map of Fortezzien spread over Ilse's desk, then the closed bedroom door. He sniffed, as though he could scent the mystery in her rooms.

Or the magic.

Ilse stole behind him. She could take him down with a hold and a sweep, then silence him with a blow to the throat. Alesso whirled around and seized her wrist. "Please," he said. "We are two old friends. We do not betray each other."

She tested his grip. It was too strong to break without making noise. "How sweetly you talk," she said. "I wish I could believe you. Speak plainly."

Alesso laughed. "This is why I adore you. Very well, I shall speak plainly. You have two visitors. One illicit, if not dead. Tomorrow, you face an interrogation with Lord Markus Khandarr, who is recovering from a rather strenuous interview this past evening. My guess is that these two incidents are connected. Let me help you in your endeavors."

"For what payment?"

His eyes were bright with amus.e.m.e.nt. "You are so blunt. I shall return the favor. I want you to plead my cause-Fortezzien's cause-with your beloved, Lord Raul Kosenmark."

Her skin went cold at Raul's name. "I left him and his house."

"You did, but rumor tells me your heart did not. What is your answer?"

Ilse thought quickly. She did not trust Alesso. But he had proved discreet. He had not gossiped about her letter and visit to Lord Joannis. He clearly knew more about Osterling Keep than she did. And she had not forgotten his words about political games, how not all of them concerned the king and his court.

"Do you want money?" she asked. "Or influence? You must have many friends in need. Shall we call them rebels, or do you have a more polite name?"

"Our names are not important. Nor do I want money. I want your promise of Lord Kosenmark's a.s.sistance in the future. We can discuss the details later. Introduce me to your friends and tell me your plans."

He smiled easily. Ilse wanted to slap him. "Galena," she called softly. "Bring our visitor, please."

They emerged from the bedroom. Both of them stared at Alesso with open curiosity.

"A prisoner," Alesso said softly. "And a soldier of the kingdom. So I guessed correctly. You should know that I could overhear your argument. You want to smuggle this woman out of Osterling. I can help you with that."

Galena hissed and drew her knife. "I told you no, Ilse. I meant that."

She darted toward the door. Alesso grabbed her arm, but Galena was as tall and strong as Alesso, and she had a knife. Ilse darted forward and disarmed Galena with a blow to her finger bones, which distracted Galena long enough for Alesso to complete a sweep and throw her to the ground.

Ilse bent over her, the other knife in her hand. "Galena. I am sorry. I cannot let you report to your officer. Not yet."

"You lied."

"I did. I'm sorry."

"That is your mistake," Alesso said. "Being sorry, that is. Do we kill her?"

"What? No." But she eyed Galena uneasily.

Galena lay there, her eyes wide and pale. Valara had circled around and observed the scene with her arms folded. Her lips twitched in a smile when Ilse glanced in her direction. "Let her live," Valara said. "She will hate that worse than dying. Won't you?" she asked Galena. "Betrayal is a coward's weapon."

Galena flinched. "I am not a coward."

"Nor a friend," Valara said. "You have no reason to like or help me. But her"-she nodded at Ilse-"you care a great deal about her. Do you want her dead? Locked in prison and tortured? Better you let us go tonight and salve your conscience tomorrow."

Bells whispered through the open shutters. Three quarter chimes. Ilse glanced at Alesso. He nodded. He, too, understood they had little time before the watch changed, before someone sent a runner to the garrison prison and Valara's absence was discovered.

"Choose," Alesso said to Ilse. "Death or-"

"Forgetfulness," Ilse said. "I know magic to lock her memories."

He shook his head. "Not good enough."

He pressed the knife's edge to Galena's throat. Ilse reached for Alesso's arm, but it was Valara who intercepted him before he could do more than make a shallow cut. "One moment." Her voice was calm, dispa.s.sionate, as though they were not discussing murder. To Galena, she said, "Help me and I will take away the word on your face."

Galena's eyes went wide.

Ilse held herself still, watching them both, but especially Valara. Oh, she is perceptive. Even at such a time as this.

"Can you?" Galena asked.

"Of course."

"They'll see," Ilse said. "Your captain and everyone else will notice if that mark disappears overnight."

Valara shrugged. "I can make a spell with a lock. Your friend may wait a day, a year, then speak the words to complete the spell and set magic free to do its work."

Leaving Galena free to join her brother at the borderlands, or farther west. But Ilse did not dare to interrupt. She, too, needed Galena's cooperation.

Galena licked her lips. "I will then."

Once more the scene rapidly changed. Alesso helped Galena to sit up. Ilse fetched a wet cloth to clean the wound on her neck. Valara murmured a string of Erythandran, and the wound closed to a bright red scar.

"Now," Alesso said. "We make our plans quickly. You can't slip past the city gates, or by sea. Those soldiers keep a strict watch by the harbor as well as the highway. Even if you could, there's the fort. They'll s.n.a.t.c.h you up within two miles of Osterling. No, the only possible way is through the tunnels."

"What tunnels?" Ilse said sharply.

But Galena nodded slowly in recognition. "From the old days before the empire," she said in a wondering tone. "The kings of Fortezzien had them built in case of a siege. They could send messengers past the enemy, to summon aid from another city."

"You know where the entrances are?" Alesso asked her.

"Inside the Keep's ruins. They used to set guards outside, but not anymore. But I don't know anything else about them."

"How far do they run?" Ilse asked. "Far enough?"

Meaning, would the tunnels take them past the first circle of patrols. Alesso seemed to understand because he nodded. "Back in the old days, the tunnels ran halfway up the coast. Most collapsed years ago, but it's still pa.s.sable for a few miles, if you don't mind rats and rubble. Is that acceptable to my lady?"

He left a great deal unsaid, but Ilse could piece together the clues. Alesso and his colleagues used the tunnels for their own activities. Which meant the regular soldiers did not. "It is," she said. "What if they decide to follow?"

"Then we make certain they don't. You and your friend go to the tunnel. Soldier girl reports to her harbor duty. Certain of my friends will arrange a distraction, while I handle things here in the pleasure house to explain your absence."

Ilse gazed into Alesso's eyes, wishing she could read what lay behind them. Trust was indeed a gift. You could not ask a bondage price for it.

"Give us until the next hour bell," she said.

Alesso's eyes narrowed, as if he were calculating a great many things. "When are you due at your post?" he asked Galena.

"At the hour bell after next."

"It will have to do," he murmured.