Fire Dragon - Katharine Kerr [111]
“A bargain, Rae,” Verrarc said. “A bargain for the sake of the love you say you bear me. If I should do this thing for you, will you share the magicks you've gained? For months now you've put me off, saying the time be not ripe or Lord Havoc be not ready. I do wish to ken the lore you ken.”
“You will, my love, you will! I swear it to you. Have I not been gathering it for you, to make you a fine gift of magicks understood rather than scraps and bits of knowledge?”
“I know it not. Have you?”
“I have! I swear it to you. Soon you will learn all that I ken, and no holding back of aught.”
“Done, then! I'll do my best to hold back the Deciding.”
Verrarc gave her a quick kiss, then hurried out. He wanted to be the first man back at the Council House, in order to work on the other members as they came in, one at time and willing, perhaps, to listen.
In the event, however, his task turned out to be easier than he'd thought. Hennis and Burra had grave doubts about rushing this decision through. Though Admi and Frie held out for speed, they were quite simply outnumbered. Still, the debate went on for much of the afternoon, while Zatcheka sat straight-backed in her chair and merely listened, her mouth frozen, it seemed, in her smooth little smile.
“Ah very well!” Admi snapped at last. “We wait, then, to hold a formal Deciding among the citizenry.”
“Three nights would be a good wait,” Verrarc said. “Truly, I do agree with you when you say that we dare not postpone it for long.”
Admi glanced round at the other council members, who all nodded. Everyone turned to the Gel da'Thae ambassador, who laid a hand on the talismans at her throat.
“Deliberation and patience, they be always good,” Zatcheka said. “I have no objections. There be a need on you and me to consider many fine points and details of the treaty, after all.”
“Done then!” Admi said. “Tonight we call council fire to tell the town this bitter news. Three days hence, counting the morrow as the first day, we hold the Deciding upon the finished treaty.”
Although the other council members escorted Zatcheka back to her caravan's camp, Verrarc begged off and returned home to report his victory to Raena. He was expecting that she'd be waiting for him at the door, but she wasn't there, nor was she in the great room or their bedchamber. What had she done, disappeared again? Cursing a steady stream he looked through the entire house. No sign of Raena, but in the kitchen he found old Korla, pounding herbs in a mortar. Nearby Magpie sat on the floor with her arms round her knees, watching.
“Where be my lady?” Verrarc said.
“I've not seen hide nor hair of her.” The satisfaction in Korla's voice was impossible to miss. “Not since you did leave the house for the second meeting.”
“Ye gods! What about Harl? Has he seen her?”
Korla shrugged in massive indifference. Magpie unwound her arms and stood up, giggling.
“Did you see her, child?” Verrarc said.
“She did climb to the top of the back wall, and then she turned into a big black raven and flew away.”
“Here!” Korla laid down her mortar and turned to face her granddaughter. “No daft fancies, lass!”
“It be no fancy.” Magpie stuck her lip out in a pout. “I did see her, I tell you. Not a stitch of clothes did she have on, neither. Then she grew feathers.”
When Korla raised her hand for a slap, Verrarc caught the old woman's wrist.
“Leave her be,” he said gently. “I shan't hold it against the poor half-wit.”
Korla snorted in disgust, but she let the matter drop. Verrarc knew that Magpie might well be telling the plain truth. What if Raena could shape-change? Mazrak. The Gel da'Thae called wizards who could turn themselves into animals by this name. He'd heard stories of such all his life. It would explain so many mysteries if Raena knew the mag-icks that would let her fly.
“Be you ill, master?” Korla said. “You've gone all white.”
“It's naught but weariness.”
“You come sit down, then. I've made soup, and I'll ladle you out some. Good for what ails a man, it is.”
“So it be.” He managed