The Red Wolf Conspiracy Part 47

"And unnaturally good luck," Hercol added. "The mist that rolled off the Fens allowed us to move unseen, and within it sounds were deadened, too. First it blanketed Arunis' sh.o.r.e compound, and we fell on the Volpeks there and slew them almost in silence. Then the mist moved out to sea like a great wall, and we followed. Was it the work of Coast spirits, or the murths you befriended, Pazel? I do not know. But within that uncanny fog we stole aboard the cargo s.h.i.+p, and though some of our people fell we took her, too, and still Arunis suspected nothing."

"I saw your handiwork," said Pazel grimly, recalling the dead Volpek he had feared was Neeps.

"Afterward we launched her boats and sailed west into the main current, where we could fall upon the Hemeddrin Hemeddrin from behind. It was vital to take her next. Her guns could have blown the sea barge to matchsticks." from behind. It was vital to take her next. Her guns could have blown the sea barge to matchsticks."

"We noticed," said Neeps.

"That was the freebooters' doing," said Hercol. "A bit too eager to kill Volpeks, as it happened. We Tholja.s.sans never planned to fire a shot. Yet there was a danger that the Volpeks would harm their captives if they learned that we had taken their fighting s.h.i.+p. What if they sank the sphere with captives still inside her? That is why I sent Thasha out with the last cage full of divers. And that is why four of us slipped from our boats as we pa.s.sed the sea barge, and trod water in the mists and kelp, awaiting her signal that you were all safely out of the sphere."

"Only I couldn't signal," said Thasha, "because you were still missing."

"And then the freebooters fired the cannons?"

"At the sea barge," said Hercol, with a nod.

"On top of us, in other words," said Marila.

"You were very lucky, Pazel," said Neeps. "Mintu here saw you just as you were starting to sink. You were out cold."

"I owe you one, mate," said Pazel. Mintu smiled and looked at his toes.

Hercol smiled at the brother and sister. "Our countrymen will see you all safely home to your villages, once you have rested a bit in Ormael. Fasundri Fasundri, fearless ones: that is how you shall be known."

He touched his closed fist to his forehead, the very gesture Thasha had seen him make on the bridge in Gallows Park in Ether-horde, and the Tholja.s.san boy and girl did the same. Pazel looked at Marila, and saw that Neeps was doing the same. They would miss her, strange cold fish that she was.

"And that is nearly the end of the story," said Chadfallow. "The Tholja.s.sans took the s.h.i.+p, and paid the freebooters a tidy sum for their trouble. All the artifacts stolen from the Lythra Lythra they wisely returned to the sea. Many Volpeks died, along with some who fought them. But no divers perished, except the two boys killed by the sea-murths. I cannot say whether Arunis died, but at least his plans have been thwarted." they wisely returned to the sea. Many Volpeks died, along with some who fought them. But no divers perished, except the two boys killed by the sea-murths. I cannot say whether Arunis died, but at least his plans have been thwarted."

"And the Red Wolf?" said Pazel. "What became of it?"

Chadfallow and Hercol exchanged a look. The doctor closed the wardroom door.

"It is here," he said, "in the hold. Do not speak of it to anyone. When Chathrand Chathrand sails back to Etherhorde I shall gather the best minds in the Empire: we shall try to learn why Arunis wanted it so badly." sails back to Etherhorde I shall gather the best minds in the Empire: we shall try to learn why Arunis wanted it so badly."

"You should start with Ramachni," said Thasha, sullen, as if this were a point made before. Chadfallow did not even look at her.

"My great fear, Pazel, was that Arunis sought the Nilstone, a cursed thing of horrible power. It was in the keeping of the Mzithrin Kings, and vanished during the last war. The s.h.a.ggat Ness craved it to the point of madness, and one rumor placed it in his hands at the moment the Lythra Lythra sank. No doubt Arunis also dreams of possessing the Nilstone--and if it were here, I cannot imagine him spending his time on anything else. Still, I sense a powerful spell on this Wolf: perhaps it too is a weapon of some kind." sank. No doubt Arunis also dreams of possessing the Nilstone--and if it were here, I cannot imagine him spending his time on anything else. Still, I sense a powerful spell on this Wolf: perhaps it too is a weapon of some kind."

"Do you think he wanted it for the s.h.a.ggat Ness?" asked Pazel.

The doctor turned him a sharp look. "What do you mean, for for him?" him?"

Before Pazel could answer, a cry went up on the topdeck: "Port stations! Ormael City! Clew up, boys! Furl those Volpek rags!" "Port stations! Ormael City! Clew up, boys! Furl those Volpek rags!"

Everyone jumped to their feet.

"We can discuss this later," said Hercol. "Now we must act. Thasha, you know your part?"

A gleam appeared in Thasha's eye. "Know it? I can't wait wait for it." for it."

"Very good," said Hercol. "Then listen well, Pazel Pathkendle, for we shall need your help as well. We have dealt with one conspirator, but two more await us."

The Imperial Governor of His Supremacy's Territories of Ormael and the Trothe of Chereste was having a bad evening. The sword-fish was off. His cook had the measles. He hated this wing of Ormael Palace (the evening sun through the famous round, red window behind him slowly cooked the back of his neck), but where else could he entertain? The formal dining hall was still roofless and derelict, five years after the Rescue. The repair funds--like most of those promised for the city--had mysteriously evaporated. In truth such a theft of Imperial gold did not bother him half as much as not being invited to partic.i.p.ate.

His subjects loathed him, an Etherhorder sent to rule Ormael in the name of a violent conqueror. And for the first time since his reign began five years ago: cannon fire along the Coast! Were they pirates, freebooters, Mzithrini? He hardly dared imagine.

It was the third straight dinner with his Chathrand Chathrand guests, and they had long since run out of pleasantries. Uskins and Fiffengurt, two officers brought along tonight to make conversation, did nothing but glower at each other across the table. Each time Amba.s.sador Isiq looked at him, the governor heard a silent accusation. guests, and they had long since run out of pleasantries. Uskins and Fiffengurt, two officers brought along tonight to make conversation, did nothing but glower at each other across the table. Each time Amba.s.sador Isiq looked at him, the governor heard a silent accusation. Why are you eating dinner? Why did you sneeze? Why aren't you out there looking for her? Why are you eating dinner? Why did you sneeze? Why aren't you out there looking for her?

For of course nothing mattered beside the grand catastrophe hanging over him. The Isiq daughter, gone. Six hundred vessels descending on Simja for a wedding that could not occur. Day by day they were drifting toward an embarra.s.sment that would sting for centuries. And he would be at its epicenter: the fool in Ormael who lost the Treaty Bride.

"This wine is splendid, Governor," said Syrarys.

Bless her, thought the governor. She does try to help She does try to help.

"Jasbrea Vineyards," mumbled Captain Rose, frowning at his fish. "On Fulne."

"Right you are, Captain!" said the governor. "You're a connoisseur."

"I'm a drinker."

First Mate Uskins laughed: a sound like a sheep poked with a dagger. The governor's wife tut-tutted and made the sign of the Tree.

"'Drink is bottled woe, I shall abandon it,'" she said. "The twenty-first Rule of Rin. Don't you find, Captain, that ..."

Across the table, Lady Oggosk raised her milky eyes and studied the governor's wife coldly. The woman let her voice trail away.

A servant entered. By his look of nausea it was clear he bore bad news. Keep it to yourself Keep it to yourself, the governor thought. But he let the man whisper in his ear.

In fact the news was anything but bad. The governor jumped to his feet.

"She is found!"

"Found?" cried Eberzam Isiq. "Thasha, found? Where is she?"

"I'm right here, Prahba."

And there she was at the door! Unharmed, even tranquil. She did not run to her father but merely walked, slowly and calmly, and put a hand on his.

"My child!" he said, choking on emotion or swordfish. "Where did you--"

"Wicked girl!" shrieked Syrarys, embracing her. "I've worried myself sick! I haven't slept, do you know that?"

"I expect you pace the castle all night," said a voice at the main door.

Everyone but Thasha gasped. Dr. Ignus Chadfallow stepped into the room, followed by a bruised-looking boy.

The amba.s.sador stood up, too. "Ignus! Pathkendle! What on earth has brought you here?"

"A Volpek s.h.i.+p, Your Excellency, but that is a long story. At the moment what I most recall is the horrors of their galley. Is there no hope of dinner, Governor?"

"h.e.l.lo, Mr. Uskins," said Pazel quietly, looking straight at the first mate. Then he turned and smiled with great affection at Fiffengurt.

"You rascal!" said Fiffengurt, beaming.

Stuttering, the governor called for two additional plates.

"Make it four," said Chadfallow.

"You three and who else, sir?" asked Uskins.

"Hard to say, isn't it?"

The new arrivals took their seats. Thasha sat beside Syrarys, facing her father.

"Where did you go, my star?" asked Isiq bluntly.

"North," she said, "to the Haunted Coast." Then she looked at Syrarys. "I'm parched. May I taste your wine?"

Syrarys pushed it at her. "You've scared us out of our minds! We thought you were dead!"

"And that, of course, would not do at all," said Chadfallow.

"Doctor!" said Isiq furiously. "You and I are the oldest of friends, but I cannot excuse this tone! You're addressing my lady and consort!"

"It is my sad duty to inform you," said Chadfallow, "that I was addressing your poisoner."

Screams and bellows. One of the servants seemed to think Chad-fallow was referring to the fish and began to cry. Syrarys wept loudly. Isiq threw down his napkin and looked ready to challenge the physician to a duel. Lady Oggosk nibbled bread.

"You're jealous!" cried Syrarys. "You never wanted Eberzam to love me!"

"On the contrary," said Chadfallow. "I wanted it a great deal. So much so that I ignored the signs of treachery until they stared me in the face."

"What the devil are you talking about, man?" shouted Isiq.

"You would know, sir, if my letters had reached you. Ah! Here's another guest for dinner."

Outside the doorway, still as death, stood Sandor Ott.

Isiq gestured sharply. "Come in, Nagan! Why do you wait?"

Ott did indeed seem reluctant to enter the room. Syrarys looked at him fixedly At last he seemed to make up his mind, crossed the room and knelt at Thasha's side.

"Lady Thasha!" he said. "Thank all the G.o.ds! I have hunted day and night--"

"I'll bet you have," said Pazel.

"Chadfallow," said Isiq, "are you mad? You seat this insolent boy beside my daughter, you accuse my lady of wis.h.i.+ng me dead--"

"Oh!" cried Syrarys.

"She looks faint!" said Uskins. "Give her some wine!"

"Give her silence!" roared Isiq, and everyone obeyed. roared Isiq, and everyone obeyed.

Syrarys clung to his arm, sobbing. Then she groped for her wine and drank deeply.

"Syrarys, darling," said Thasha, "the doctor's upset you."

"He lies! He hates me!"

"You look ill," said Thasha.

"Send her away from me! Oh, Eberzam, I wish I were dead!"

Thasha reached for her hand. "You need something to calm yourself. What about a few of Prahba's special drops?"

Syrarys froze. Her wet eyes turned slowly in Thasha's direction. "If only I had them," she said. "They're in my cabin."

"No, they're not." From under the table Thasha produced a small blue vial. "I had to stop at the Chathrand Chathrand before dinner," she said. "Really, I looked a fright. And something told me this might come in handy. before dinner," she said. "Really, I looked a fright. And something told me this might come in handy. A harmless tonic to soothe the nerves A harmless tonic to soothe the nerves--isn't that what you called it? So I put a few drops in your wine."

Syrarys looked pale.

"There's nothing to fear," said Thasha. "Remember how you put it? Tasteless and harmless. You could drink it by the gla.s.s." Tasteless and harmless. You could drink it by the gla.s.s."

"A few drops?" whispered Syrarys.

"Well, nineteen."

Syrarys' tears were gone. She sat perfectly still. Dr. Chadfallow opened his bag and withdrew a bottle of his own.

"May I acquaint you with oil of grubroot, Lady Syrarys? For your predicament there is really nothing like it."

Syrarys tensed all over. Then her face twisted into the look of rage Thasha had always known she was hiding.

"You d.a.m.n doddering fool!" she screamed at Isiq. "Two more days with you and your Pit-sp.a.w.n daughter! That's all we needed! Two days!" She s.n.a.t.c.hed Chadfallow's bottle and ran for the kitchen.

"Do not let her escape, Governor," said Chadfallow quietly.

Isiq looked as if he had been struck in the face. He gave Thasha a beseeching look. His lips trembled, as if he were about to speak, but no sound came. Thasha put her arms around his neck, and propped her chin on his hairless forehead.

"You aren't ill, Prahba. You never were."

Then Fiffengurt spoke softly: "All ... we we needed?" needed?"

"Quartermaster," said Captain Rose, "you will return to the s.h.i.+p."

Fiffengurt looked at him sharply. "Oppo, Captain. As you will."