Shadows Return Part 16

"That must be difficult, not knowing the 'faie part of your family, when you resemble them so much."

Alec shrugged. "It doesn't matter much to me. Like I said, I never knew about them."

That was a lie, of course. Ever since he'd been given that vision of his mother, he'd dreamed often of her face and the anguished look in her eyes as she'd placed her infant son in his father's arms. He'd thought a lot about certain pa.s.ses in the Ironheart foothills, too-places his father had steered clear of. Everyone around Kerry knew the legends about the 'faie who lived somewhere beyond Ravensfell Pa.s.s, though most thought they were just a legend. But all the old stories told around tavern fires spoke of a dark and dangerous folk who killed unwary hunters who strayed too close to their borders.

"Do you know what Yhakobin wants with me?" he asked, tossing another crumb to the fish.

"As I said, Alec, I only do what I'm told. He does not confide in me." Khenir stood with his face to the sun again, eyes closed and smiling now, as if he'd found refuge in better thoughts.

Seeing him like that, Alec suddenly found himself thinking, By the Four, but he's handsome! By the Four, but he's handsome!

The traitorous thought surprised and shamed him. Where the h.e.l.l had that come from?

Fortunately, Khenir took no notice.

Alec fixed his attention on the fish again, guilty and heartsick as he recalled the silly fight he and Seregil had gotten into when Seregil suggested he find a willing girl to have children for him. And here he was now, looking at another man.

Forgive me, tali!

After nearly two weeks of rest and decent food, Seregil told himself he felt a little stronger today, but after a few circuits around the room he knew otherwise. Frustrated, he acquiesced glumly when Zoriel moved the chair to the window for him and left him there with his bowl of morning gruel and a blanket over his knees, like an old man. Whatever magic the slavers had used on him, it had taken a more lasting toll on him than anything he'd ever experienced, except perhaps for the amulet he and Alec had inadvertently stolen from that Plenimaran duke soon after they met. He still had the scar on his chest from that mishap.

He gazed down into the garden, docketing again all the possible routes of escape-a tall tree, some stonework that offered good handholds, a climbing rose. From what little he could see over the wall, this was a country house, which presented other problems. A city was an easy place in which to lose oneself; open fields, probably bare this time of year, were the worst possible option.

No use worrying about that before I'm strong enough to do something about it. Feeling more useless than ever, he rested his chin in one hand and watched the sparkle of the fountain. There were some large fish in the basin that he hadn't noticed before. That was a sure sign of wealth, though he'd already guessed as much. Feeling more useless than ever, he rested his chin in one hand and watched the sparkle of the fountain. There were some large fish in the basin that he hadn't noticed before. That was a sure sign of wealth, though he'd already guessed as much.

Doves were drinking and bathing there, too, but scattered as several people walked into view in the covered portico. He expected the children and their nurse, but it was two taller, veiled figures. They pa.s.sed from view, then reappeared on one of the paths leading to the fountain.

"Alec!" The breath locked in Seregil's chest as he lurched unsteadily to his feet, clutching at the bars for support. There was no question; even with the veil and shapeless robe, his lover's build and gait, and that braid hanging down the back of his cloak were unmistakable.

He's alive! He's alive and he's here, in this house!

"Alec!" he shouted.

When Alec gave no sign of hearing, Seregil reached through the bars, pounding at the thick window. It would not give, and even that sound did not seem to reach the men in the garden. That didn't stop him from shouting himself hoa.r.s.e. Caught between relief and frustration, he sagged against the bars, tears rolling unnoticed down his cheeks as he drank in the sight of his tali alive and apparently well.

He's alive! Thank the Light, Alec is alive! The words throbbed in his head in time to his frantic heartbeat. The words throbbed in his head in time to his frantic heartbeat. I didn't get him killed! I didn't get him killed!

He'd paid scant attention to the other man, but he scrutinized him now and saw that he had Alec on a chain like a dog, fastened to some sort of collar around his neck. He silently vowed to cut off the hand of the man who'd put it there.

Though Seregil couldn't make out their faces, it appeared that they were on friendly terms. That gave Seregil hope. If there was one thing Alec excelled at, it was charming people and disguising his own motives.

The other man wore a golden collar around his neck, just visible under the edge of the veil. He also had the dark hair and build of a 'faie. Well done, tali. Perhaps you've found us an ally! Well done, tali. Perhaps you've found us an ally!

Alec and his companion walked together, arm in arm, while Seregil watched like a drowning man sighting land across the waves.

As they reached the fountain, both of them pulled down their veils. For a moment Seregil only had eyes for Alec; he looked well-better than well, actually. Even through the wavy gla.s.s, Alec had never looked more beautiful. It made his heart ache to be this close and yet so hopelessly apart. Just then, however, Alec's companion looked up in Seregil's direction and smiled.

Seregil's elation curdled in his throat. He knew this face, this man. He'd haunted Seregil's memories all the days of his exile, and his dreams, too, since he'd been here.

Ilar i Sontir. First lover. First betrayer. The man who'd engineered Seregil's downfall all those years ago.

He slammed his fist against the window again. "You wh.o.r.eson b.a.s.t.a.r.d!"

In the garden below, Ilar took Alec's arm as if they were the best of friends. Seregil shuddered, feeling like he was caught in a horrible dream when he saw the way Alec smiled at him.

Seregil clutched the bars that kept him from kicking out the window and leaping down to kill Ilar for putting hands on Alec. Just one more reason to kill you, Ilar! Just one more reason to kill you, Ilar!

Ilar looked up again, almost as if he'd heard Seregil's thoughts.

You meant for me to see, didn't you, you b.a.s.t.a.r.d? You had Zoriel put me here, to be certain I'd be watching.

What followed took on the feel of a staged performance, which it probably was. Ilar touched Alec often, and they stood close together, talking like friends as they threw bread to the fish. Alec actually reached out and took Ilar's arm. Seregil stood there, fingers going numb around the bars, hating Ilar with a pa.s.sion so strong it made black spots swim in front of his eyes.

He stayed there until Alec and Ilar pa.s.sed from view again, then sank down in the chair and put his head between his knees, feeling sick.

When the nausea had abated he fell back in the chair, staring out the window at the grey-backed gulls circling above the house. His heart beat so hard it ached.

How can this possibly be?

Where has Ilar been all these years, and what is he doing here?

Think, d.a.m.n it! I can't even stay on my feet. What am I going to do?

When his head stopped spinning, he slowly pushed the chair into the corner of the room furthest from the door and huddled there, sweaty and winded, clutching the empty water pitcher in both hands. He felt absolutely ridiculous, but right now he didn't have much in the way of options.

Zoriel came at the customary time with his midday meal and found him there. "What's this?"

"I saw your 'master,' down there in the garden," he growled. "Turns out he's an old friend of mine."

Zoriel set the tray across his knees. "You're talking nonsense. Eat your food."

"Tell him I'd very much like to renew our acquaintance, won't you?" Seregil called after her as she went out. "Tell him it's been far too long!"

"Fool!" she threw back as the guard slammed the door.

Seregil smiled crookedly as he ate the bean soup, brown bread, and honeyed milk she'd brought. His circ.u.mstances hadn't changed, but knowing where Alec was, even if it was with Ilar, was the first firm ground he'd had under his feet in weeks.

It had been over half a century since Seregil had met Ilar that summer at the clan gathering by the river.

My last summer there, he thought bitterly. he thought bitterly. Is that why I dreamed of it again, after all this time? Did I know he was so close? Is that why I dreamed of it again, after all this time? Did I know he was so close?

Thanks to Ilar, he'd killed that Hamani clansman. And, in doing so, betrayed his own father, his clan, and destroyed the fragile negotiations before they could come to fruition.

Ilar was several decades older than the green boy Seregil had been then. He'd been so handsome, so charming, always with time for his young companion. He'd made Seregil feel like he was someone special instead of his father's great disappointment.

Seregil rested his head in his hands with a soft groan. Ilar hadn't had much trouble seducing him, and in more ways than one. He secured Seregil's needy heart first, with caresses, kind words, and false praise, playing the smitten swain when all the time he'd been sounding out the khirnari's son, finding the best way to ruin him-and through Seregil, his father's negotiations with the Zengat. Too late, Seregil had realized that this had been his "lover's" real goal, all along.

Even after all these years, the memories were stained deep with shame. Adzriel had tried to warn him against the older man, and in time even Kheeta had grown concerned about Ilar's hold over Seregil.

But Seregil hadn't listened to any of them, and in the end he'd been cheaply bought. Ilar had made a game of giving him little challenges: steal a bit of food from this camp, go to the heart of another and bring back proof he'd come and gone unseen, and the like. Puffed up with his successes and the older man's approval, he'd willingly gone to the tent of the Haman khirnari, looking for a doc.u.ment that would supposedly aid his father in his negotiations. Little did he guess that as soon as he was safely off on that errand, Ilar had convinced one of the Haman khirnari's kinsman to go there as well, on some pretext.

It had been dark, and the man had surprised Seregil. They both drew weapons, but Seregil was quicker with his knife, striking out of fear and panic before he could weigh the consequences. Seregil hadn't meant to kill him. The act had sickened him to the heart and he'd made no effort to get away.

Ilar and those who'd been his fellow conspirators were long gone by the time Seregil appeared in the council tent, shattered and in tears, with the first blood he'd ever shed still warm on his hands and white tunic.

Ilar was never seen in Aurenen again...

Seregil didn't realize he'd been poisoned until the half-empty soup bowl slipped from his hand and clattered to the floor in front of him.

"No!" he whispered, as the room began to spin. Why would Ilar kill him now, after going to all this trouble?

But he didn't die, or even lose consciousness. His body simply went to sleep, leaving his mind awake and frantic.

Time pa.s.sed and he sat frozen, slumped in his chair, mind racing. At last he heard the grate of a key in the door. He wasn't at all surprised when Ilar stepped in and closed the door behind him. The veil was gone.

"Ilar i Sontir," Seregil rasped, forcing the words out.

"Haba. I do hope you enjoyed your meal." And he gave Seregil that warm, false smile he remembered so well as he crossed the room and bent over Seregil. He slipped a finger under Seregil's collar and gave it a little tug. "This suits you. And I'm known as Khenir now, but you can use my old name if you wish. It doesn't mean anything here."

He picked Seregil up in his arms as if he weighed nothing and laid him on the bed. He placed the pillow behind Seregil's head, pulled his robe down over his knees, and smoothed a stray lock of hair away from his face, mocking him with seeming tenderness, all the while with that unsettling look in his eyes. When he had Seregil arranged to his liking, he pulled the chair over and sat down beside him.

"I trust you're comfortable, Haba? Do say so if you're not." Cruel glee began to show through the solicitous mask.

"What...Poison..."

"No, just one of my master's tinctures. It's not the first time you've had it, you know. Been sleeping well since you came here? Have your dreams been especially vivid?" He held up a silver perfume flask and pulled out the stopper, waving it under Seregil's nose. The scent of wandril flowers. Adzriel's scent.

"Bas-"

"What's that? Do speak up." Ilar set the flask aside, then leaned close and stroked Seregil's hair and cheek. Then he leaned closer still and kissed him, thrusting his tongue deep into his mouth.

Seregil tried to bite him and Ilar pulled back, wiping his lips. "You used to like it when I did that." This time he stroked his fingers down Seregil's bare arm and across his chest, sending an involuntary shiver through him. Ilar paused as his fingers found the scar in the middle of Seregil's chest.

"What's this? Ah, but you can't answer." He traced the outline of the round mark, then examined the dragon bite on Seregil's hand. "That's a most impressive mark. Who knows all the things you've done, to get so many interesting scars since we last met." Ilar stroked his cheek again. "I've been so very patient, all these years. I waited a very long time to see you again, my little Haba. Oh, I've enjoyed our evenings together lately, but it's so much nicer with you awake."

Seregil thought of those dreams he'd had, of an unseen lover touching him, coaxing his aching response. He'd have gagged if he'd been capable.

I'd know if he raped me. I'd know. Oh, Illior!

"You looked younger in your sleep, more like the boy I loved."

Seregil managed a low growl of disgust.

Ilar's hazel eyes went distant for a moment. "I did, I think. I was certainly very fond of you by the end. It was so hard to see it through, the commission given me by the khirnari of Viresse."

He laughed as Seregil's eyes narrowed. "You didn't think he'd stand by and allow your father to succeed, did you? But then, you were only a child, and not thinking of such things." He stroked Seregil's hair again. "But you're a man now, aren't you, and all grown up? Still, those pretty eyes of yours are the same, though I don't believe I ever saw that kind of anger in them back then." Without warning he slapped Seregil hard across the face. "What have you you to be angry about? How does that compare with what happened to me? They let you live. They set you free!" to be angry about? How does that compare with what happened to me? They let you live. They set you free!"

A cold chill rippled unpleasantly over Seregil's skin. "You-knew?" he managed, his voice a ghostly rasp.

"Do you think I haven't made it my business to know where you were, and how you were prospering? Poor little exile, weren't you? Queen's Kin! Lord Lord Seregil, with your fine house and fine friends. And your Seregil, with your fine house and fine friends. And your freedom freedom!" He struck Seregil again, and the coppery taste of blood welled along the edge of his tongue.

"You-your-own-fault."

"My fault?" Ilar gave him an incredulous look. "You weren't supposed to murder murder anyone! You were only supposed to be caught and made an embarra.s.sment before your father. To upset his plans. That's what I was paid to do. But you, you little monster, you killed a man! And I was the one who paid the price. That was your choice, but I've borne the curse of it." anyone! You were only supposed to be caught and made an embarra.s.sment before your father. To upset his plans. That's what I was paid to do. But you, you little monster, you killed a man! And I was the one who paid the price. That was your choice, but I've borne the curse of it."

Seregil rolled his eyes, chancing another slap. He didn't believe him, and he didn't care. "Alec?"

"Ah yes. Alec. Word came from Aurenen that you'd returned, and that you had an Hazadrielfaie with you." The hand that had slapped him traveled down Seregil's belly and under the covers to caress his limp c.o.c.k through his robe.

"So?" Seregil was for once glad of the drug, for the way it dulled him to the movements of that hand.

Ilar's smile returned, thin and nasty, as he sat back and crossed his arms. "You really don't know, do you? Or any of the khirnari of the Iia'sidra. No one remembers why Hazadriel gathered her followers and disappeared, all those generations ago. But there are those here in Plenimar who do."

Seregil waited, intrigued in spite of his distrust. To his dismay, Ilar only chuckled and stood up.

"Sleep well, Haba. Perhaps I'll visit you again tonight."

"No! Alec..." Seregil croaked, as his body lay there like so much carrion.

"He's no longer your concern, is he? Oh, but just so you know?" Ilar pushed back his right sleeve and showed Seregil the underside of his forearm. The slave brand was smooth and faded, white against the pale skin. "This will be burnt over soon, marking me as a freedman. Your lover is the price of that freedom. And can you guess what my my price was, for finding him for them?" price was, for finding him for them?"

He paused, leaving Seregil to wonder who "them" might be.

"My price, little Haba, was you."

CHAPTER 20 20.

The Price of Loneliness

ALEC WAS ALWAYS left to himself the day after a visit to Yhakobin, so he was as much surprised as pleased when Khenir appeared at his door that afternoon. left to himself the day after a visit to Yhakobin, so he was as much surprised as pleased when Khenir appeared at his door that afternoon.

"Would you like to take another walk?" he asked, grinning.

Alec was so glad to get outside again that he hardly minded when one of the waiting guards fastened the chain to his collar.

Once again, four guards were there to watch them. Making a break for it in daylight probably wasn't going to be an option, Alec decided. That was not a cheering thought, but he couldn't help enjoying being out of that cell again. It was a bit warmer today and he relished the warmth of the sun on his face as they strolled around the garden, enjoying the splash of the fountain and the cries of the gulls overhead.

After a while Khenir took Alec's hand in his as if it was the most natural thing in the world. Alec blushed guiltily as the warmth of the other man's palm against his own sent a rather pleasurable tingle up his arm.