The Blood Knight - J. Gregory Keyes [79]
“Is that true, Sire?” Lord Respell asked, sounding surprised. “Hidden passageways into the castle?”
“Yes, Respell,” Robert said, waving him off impatiently. “I’ve told you before.”
“Have you?”
“Yes. Composer, are you still with me?”
Leoff shook his head. Had he dozed off? He felt as if he had missed something.
“I-I’ve forgotten what you were saying,” Leoff said.
“Of course. And you will forget again, I suppose, like Respell here.”
“Forget what, Sire?” Respell asked.
Robert sighed and put a hand to his forehead.
“The secret passages in the dungeons. There are too many to locate and obstruct. Well, I needn’t go into detail. In sum, Cavaor Leoff, I feel you will be more comfortable here, and safe from any further…incursions. Isn’t that so, Lord Respell?”
The young man shook off his look of puzzlement and nodded. “Many have tried to invade this keep,” he said proudly. “None has ever succeeded. You shall be quite safe here.”
“And my friends?” Leoff asked.
“Well, that was to be a surprise,” Robert replied. He motioned to the girls, who vanished for a moment, then returned with Mery Gramme and Areana Wistbirm.
Leoff’s first reaction at seeing the two was one of pure joy, followed rapidly by mortification. Areana was a lovely lady, seventeen years in age, and it was hardly meet that she should see him in this situation.
Or in this shape. He was peculiarly aware of his hands and their terrible traction. He lowered them deeper beneath the water.
“Leoff!” Areana gasped, rushing forward to kneel by the tub. “Mery said she had seen you, but—”
“You are well, Areana?” he asked stiffly. “They have not harmed you?”
Areana looked up at Robert, and her face clouded. “I have been privated and locked in conditions most unpleasant,” she said, “but no real harm has come to me.” Her eyes suddenly filled with dismay. “Mery said your hands—”
“Areana,” Leoff whispered desperately. “I am uncomfortable with this. They did not tell me you would be here.”
“It’s because he’s naked,” Mery put in helpfully. “Mother says men aren’t used to being naked and do not take to it very well. She says they aren’t very smart without their clothes on.”
“Oh,” Areana said. “Of course.” Again she glanced up at Robert. “Pay no mind,” she said to Leoff. “He thinks by putting us in foolish situations he will make us smaller and weaken us.”
“I knew by your singing you had quite the tongue, my lady,” Robert said. “Cavaor Leovigild, I compliment you on your choice of vocalists.”
Robert’s voice sounded odder than usual now. Leoff had noticed its strangeness the first time he heard it. It was as if it strained to produce the notes natural to human speech, and yet there were very unnatural—even chilling—undertones the like of which his ear had never before experienced. He thought sometimes he heard whole other sentences in what the man said, not separate from his obvious speech but side by side with it, like a line of counterpoint.
At the moment it seemed to him that Robert was threatening to cut out Areana’s tongue.
“Thank you, Your Majesty,” he said, trying to sound cooperative. “I think you will be very pleased with the part I have written her for my new work.”
“Yes, your new—what shall we call it? It isn’t a lustpell, not really, is it? Nor is it a simple theatrical play. We need a name for it, I think. Do you have one?”
“Not yet, Majesty.”
“Well, think on it. And so shall I. Perhaps that will be my contribution to this enterprise, discovering a name for it.”
“What is he talking about, Leoff?” Areana asked.
“Didn’t I tell you?” Robert answered. “Cavaor Leoff has agreed to write us another of his singing plays. I was so taken with the last, I just had to have another.” He switched his regard to Leoff. “Tell me, have you found a subject?”
“I believe I have, Majesty.”
“You can’t be serious,” Areana said, stepping back a bit. “That would betray everything you’ve done. Everything we’ve