Masquerades - Kate Novak [137]
Durgar got wearily to his feet. "I'd best be getting back to the Tower to see what assistance I can give the survivors." His shoulders were bowed-the weight not of his responsibilities, Alias knew, but of his grief. Magical spells could cure broken ribs, but not spirits. Victor walked the priest to the door, speaking to him in a hushed whisper. The noble returned to the swordswoman's side as all the watchmen followed behind their leader.
"I should return to the Tower, too," Alias said to Victor. "I have to find Dragonbait. I haven't seen him since we left the ball."
"I did, just after you left to chase the golem. He was behind the stair, healing an injured member of the watch."
"Then he was all right?"
"Looked all right to me, though I'm no expert on how saurials are supposed to look," Victor said. "I guess there's really nothing more I can do until morning. All the nobles who were still able ran off to bolt their castle doors. Durgar's seeing to the injured."
The young man looked back down at the chair where his father's corpse had been. "I don't know if I want to be alone right now. Would you come back to Castle Dhostar with me?"
Alias hesitated. It was hardly an invitation Victor could have made were his father still alive, she knew. It was bound to cause talk. Victor could use her support, though, especially after all he'd been through. There was really nothing else she could do tonight, either, and she was beginning to feel weary. She nodded her consent.
They walked back to the market green, where Victor found his carriage, attended by his driver. He dismissed the driver and took up the reins himself.
The drive from the city was quiet and uneventful. They leaned on each other, but neither spoke much. No one greeted them at the door, and Victor explained that, save for Kimbel and his carriage driver, the servants had all been given the evening off in honor of the ball.
Victor ushered Alias down the hallways and into the library, where Kimbel was tending a blazing fire in the hearth. After all the violence and the chill of the night air, the room seemed blissfully warm and peaceful, in spite of the malignant servant: Kimbel bowed and left the room without a word. Alias noticed that there was another bottle of Evermead on the table, with two glasses.
"Were you expecting me to return with you?" Alias asked.
Victor shook his head. "The other glass would be for my father. I just realized, Kimbel probably doesn't know yet that Father is-is dead." He sighed. "I suppose I can wait until morning to tell him, if he hasn't picked it up in the servant hall by then."
The nobleman poured them each a glass of Evermead as Alias wondered if the Dhostars ever drank less expensive wines. "You look lovely," he said as he handed her a glass.
Alias laughed. "My hair's a rat's nest, I've torn my gown, and I'm covered with iron golem rust."
"You look lovely to me. He sat down at the desk, but Alias stood warming herself before the fire.
"I spoke with Durgar before he left us," Victor said. "He agreed to call a meeting for tomorrow morning of all the surviving heads of the noble merchant families. It doesn't look good, I'm afraid. From what I could see of the casualties, most of the noble merchant houses are going to end up in the hands of third children or second cousins. Do you think it's possible what you said, that the Night Masters killed my father for opposing the use of the golems