The Blood Knight - J. Gregory Keyes [208]
His gaze fastened on a familiar face, and his heart went jagged in his chest.
“Fend,” he said.
The Sefry smiled. “I’m flattered you remember me,” he said. “Our last meeting was a hectic one, wasn’t it? What with all the arrows and swords, greffyns and Briar Kings. There wasn’t really much time for a proper introduction.”
“You know him?” Zemlé asked.
“In a way,” Stephen said flatly. “I know that he’s a murdering villain, without honor, compassion, or any other admirable quality.”
Fend’s single eye widened. “How could you know that? Can you pretend to hear my thoughts? You wouldn’t be relying entirely on Aspar’s opinion of me, would you?”
“No,” Stephen said. “I’ve Winna’s opinion, as well. She was your prisoner, you may remember. And I saw with my own eyes what happened in the grove near Cal Azroth. And I saw the bodies of the princesses you murdered there.”
Fend shrugged lightly. “I’ve done things that would seem regrettable, I agree. But I do not regret them because I understand why I did them. When you also understand, I believe you will think better of me.
“I hope so, because I am in your service.” He nodded to Adhrekh. “Thank, you, sir, for your hospitality and your help in finding this place.”
The other Sefry shrugged. “We are only its keepers,” he replied.
Stephen had been so focused on Fend’s evil face that he hadn’t noticed at first what he was wearing. It was armor of an exceedingly baroque and antique sort, plate and chain chased in a metal that resembled brass. It was the breastplate that really drew Stephen’s attention, depicting as it did a bearded human head adorned with horns. He’d seen a nearly identical engraving when he’d been at d’Ef, searching for clues to the nature of the Briar King. He’d thought at first that it was supposed to represent the king, who was usually depicted with horns. But the caption of the engraving had called it something quite different.
He realized with a chill that without really knowing it, he had taken several steps toward Fend. He stepped back quickly.
“Could you repeat that last bit?” Stephen asked. “About how you serve me now?”
“That’s how it is,” Fend said. “I’ve been trying to find you for months, to offer you my services.”
“You’ve been following me to find this mountain,” Stephen said. “Don’t let him fool you, Adhrekh. He hasn’t come here for any good purpose.”
“Only you could find the mountain,” Fend replied. “And it’s probably true that if I had managed to catch up with you earlier, I would have had a difficult time at best convincing you to come here. But this is where you were supposed to be, just as I was fated to accompany you and now to serve you. It really won’t be so confusing once you understand things.”
He stepped forward, drawing a nasty-looking dagger from his belt. Stephen flinched, but Fend offered it to him hilt first, then knelt at his feet.
“It was better this way,” he said. “I am here; I’ve found the secret mountain and the armor of my station. Now I offer you my life.”
Stephen took the blade, wrapped in a miasma of absolute disbelief. Fend was evil; there was no doubt about that. What was he playing at here?
Aspar wouldn’t hesitate, would he? He’d plunge the knife straight in and try to figure out what the Sefry was up to later. And he owed Aspar so much, owed him at least the death of this man…
But he wasn’t Aspar, and even Aspar might not be able to strike down someone kneeling in front of him. Stephen liked to think even Aspar couldn’t do that.
So he dropped the knife on the ground.
“Explain this to me,” he said, gesturing first at Fend, then at the rest of the party. “Any of you. Tell me what is happening.”
“You are Kauron’s heir,” Zemlé said.
Startled, he whirled on her. “Did you know, then? Were you part of this trap?”
Her eyes widened in hurt. “No. I mean, I didn’t know the particulars. I knew that you were Kauron’s heir. I don’t know this man, Stephen. I’ve never met any of these people.”
Studying the group more closely, Stephen noticed another figure, standing beyond Fend. To his surprise, he realized it was