The Alabaster Staff - Edward Bolme [62]
The intruder stiffened.
"I see you are a student of anatomy," the woman said in a firm and steady tenor, though the words were spoken softly and inoffensively.
"I discovered many years ago that a good knowledge of anatomy can get you out of a great deal of trouble," said Kehrsyn.
"I came to see Tharrad. Is he…?"
"Don't lie to me," demanded Kehrsyn. "Why did you do this? Answer me, and perhaps I'll spare your life."
She had to hope that her threat carried adequate menace. Kehrsyn knew she couldn't just skewer someone through the back, even if that someone worshiped Tiamat.
"I had nothing to do with this," said the woman, raising her arms to her sides, "though it appears that some of my people were involved." She nodded to a decapitated body dressed in red and black. "I mean no foul play, and I am unarmed. If you please, I prefer to hold discussions face to face. May I turn?"
"Yeah," said Kehrsyn, after some thought, "but keep your arms to your sides, and don't do anything stupid."
Kehrsyn stepped back to ensure she remained out of reach of the woman's long arms.
The newcomer turned around very slowly. With her feet obscured by the long, snow-wet hem of her Tiamatan robe, it was almost reminiscent of seeing a hanged criminal turning on a gibbet.
"Tiglath!" blurted Kehrsyn as she saw the intruder's profile and unique scars.
Tiglath raised her chin and said, "I recognize you."
"Don't play the fool," said Kehrsyn. "You knew I was here, you just didn't expect me to be alive."
"I am never the fool," said Tiglath. A brief pause. "Ah, yes, you were in our narthex, the one who chose to tell the truth. I granted you my sufferance."
"Oh, I remember that," said Kehrsyn. She advanced, dagger held forward and aimed at Tiglath's throat, rapier level behind her, ready for a thrust to the torso. "Is sufferance your code word for 'kill her later'? That's an ugly way to pay someone back for giving you the truth."
Tiglath drew herself up, and though her arms were still spread helplessly wide, her scar-framed eyes blazed with indignation. "How dare you? I would mete out great punishment for such temerity had I not already given you said sufferance."
"Yeah, well, one of your brutes already tried that. Tried to kill me, he did. Your protection isn't worth two grains."
At once Tiglath's eyes blazed even brighter, but the ire turned away from Kehrsyn and focused within as her eyes twitched to the side. Her nostrils flared, and her outstretched hands clenched into fists. At that moment, Kehrsyn decided it would probably be a very wise thing not to push Tiglath's patience too far.
"Really?" growled Tiglath, as slow as rolling thunder.
"Yes'm," said Kehrsyn, taking a step back. "I told him I had your sufferance just like you said, and he was even one of the ones there with you when you gave it." Kehrsyn watched as Tiglath pursed her lips. Her skin started blotching with red, making her scars stand out even more starkly. "You, um, can put your arms down, now," added Kehrsyn, not wishing to stoke the fires any further.
Tiglath fixed Kehrsyn with her gaze again, a look gone from a firestorm to cold steel.
"And where is this disobedient disciple now?" the priestess asked, her lips moving with exaggerated curves across her clenched teeth. Her arms began to drop.
"I, uh… well, he's at the bottom of the stairs. Now."
"Show me," Tiglath commanded.
Kehrsyn took a look at Tiglath's eyes and at the tendons standing out on her neck, and decided to obey. She trotted through the house, skipping uneasily over the bodies, with Tiglath's heavy tread close behind. She moved down the staircase, vaulted over the rail to avoid the bodies at the bottom, and moved as far away as she could.
Tiglath stepped over the bodies and grabbed the hair of the Tiamatan that Kehrsyn indicated. She raised his head and stared into his face, swollen and purple with pooling blood.
"You bastard!" Tiglath spat.
It was the quietest yell Kehrsyn had ever heard, yet it packed the anger and