The Gates of Night_ The Dreaming Dark - Keith Baker [68]
“All is well, Zimi,” Ferric said. “It seems we have a guest musician under our roof.”
The fiddler tossed his head and tucked his fiddle under his arm. One leap took him halfway up the stairs, and he disappeared onto the second floor.
“Now,” Lei said. “I believe you were going to give my companion his voice back.”
Daine watched in wonder. Lei seemed to have the situation well in hand.
“You’re feisty when you’re awake, aren’t you now?” Huwen chuckled, then squawked as a swift stroke of the staff sent him tumbling off the table. “Should have left that one asleep, you ask me,” he muttered from the floor.
“Lady Lei,” Ferric said. He still had Daine’s voice, but now his tone was formal, respectful. He took a step back and looked her in the eye. “Do stop abusing my guests and the help. I made a simple business arrangement with your companion. I fully intend to honor the terms of our agreement. And trust me, you’d rather have me as an ally than an enemy. So why don’t you calm down and have a little dinner? I think you’ll find we have much to discuss.”
“I think we’ll be leaving now,” Lei said. “And I don’t see what help you could offer us.”
“Don’t be so quick to judge, my dear,” Ferric said. “You don’t know what you’re dealing with. The Crooked Tree is the only free house under this moon, and the path leads ever deeper into the domain of the Woodsman. I don’t know what you know of him”—his eyes flickered down to the darkwood staff—“but given your companions, I can assure you that he is your enemy. Sit at my table. Eat my bread. Tell me your business in this land. And perhaps I can help you with your problems.”
“Not interested,” Lei said. “Just give Daine his voice back, and we’ll be on our way.”
Ferric sighed, raising his hands in surrender. “As you wish.” He walked out around the counter, stopping in front of Daine. “You know how this works. Just open your mouth.”
Smoke flowed from Ferric’s throat, and an awful scream filled the air. The vapors flowed into Daine’s mouth, pressing against his skin like a writhing serpent, and Daine fought to push away the images of the snakes he’d seen hanging from the trees. He struggled to keep from gagging—and then it was over.
“Thank the Flame,” he said, for the first time in a year.
It felt as if the words were rotting in his throat. He knew that sound. It was the voice the innkeeper had greeted them with when they’d first arrived.
Ferric opened his mouth, and it was Daine’s laugh that came from his lips.
“Honor the terms of your agreement?” Lei said, and the staff was raised again.
“I have, my dear,” Ferric said, “and not even your companion can challenge me on that.”
“You said you’d give me my voice back,” Daine said, every word a new horror.
“That I did, at first. Than you said you wanted the price to cover your companions as well. I told you that in that case, I’d give you a voice back, and you agreed. I’ve upheld my end of our bargain.”
Huwen chuckled from the floor. “Likes a deal, he does. I did tell you that.”
“This will not stand,” Lei said.
“Oh, it will,” Ferric said. “Don’t you think to threaten me beneath the Crooked Tree. But if you want your lad’s fine voice back, I think we can come to an understanding.”
Sword and dagger were in Daine’s hands, but the darkwood staff whispered and Lei waved him back. “No, Daine. You know the stories. I think he’s right.” She turned back to Ferric. “What do you want?”
“Her,” Ferric said, pointing at the staff. “You have quite a bond, I can see. But I have … a way with the spirits of the wood. I don’t know how you came by her, but I can’t imagine she means more to you than young Daine does. Give her to me, and I return Daine’s true voice to him.”
“I can’t,” Lei said. “We need her.”
Ferric nodded. “Oh, I think you’ll find that once I’ve taken her away, the Woodsman will no longer have an interest in you. What more do you need? A path home? I’m sure I can help you with that, as well.”
Lei looked at Daine, and he could see the uncertainty in her eyes. The staff began