The Magehound - Elaine Cunningham [110]
"I have reason to suspect both Matteo's veracity and his devotion to his order.
This thief wears the jordaini vestment and pendant of the queen's counselor.
Pretending to be a jordain is a serious matter-a deadly one, if she is found to have any magic. Any man who would consort with such street trash is suspect, but it appears that Matteo has actually brought this thief into the palace. Perhaps I am wrong about him, I hope so. But a magehound will examine them both and decide the matter. See to it!"
The guards flanked Tzigone and hauled her out of the chair. Her first response was to blind them with a quick fireball and then run like a rat. But using magic would ensure her death if she were caught. She tamely submitted to the guards, but her mind raced as she devised ways out of this mess.
Not much more than an hour or two passed before the door to her cell opened. Matteo stepped in. His gaze skimmed her attire and then clouded with resignation.
"My medallion, I suppose?"
She took it off and handed it to him. "You're welcome to it. It's caused me nothing but trouble."
Matteo sighed and put the chain around his neck, adjusting the medallion into place. "What have you done this time, Tzigone?"
"Oh, I like that," she retorted. "All the scrapes I've gotten you out of, and that's the thanks I get?"
"The story," he prompted. "Unadorned, if possible."
She took a deep breath. "I am secretly a member of the Jordaini Council. In the guise of a clever street waif, I protect the rights of any jordain targeted by treachery or jealousy. Currently I am following you to ensure that Frando does not attempt to place you in damning circumstances."
Matteo folded his arms. "Really."
"And it's a good thing I did! Are you aware that a pair of nubile Amnian twins are being smuggled into your bedchamber even as we speak? And that they are clad in the queen's gowns, and wearing wigs and face paint so that they both resemble Beatrix? Frando plans to accuse you not only of depravity, but of theft of the queen's property and treachery against the king. I suppose that would be treachery by proxy, since the twins are not actually Beatrix," she mused. "The niceties of Halruaan law escape me."
"Indeed," the jordain said dryly. "That's an ingenious plot, considering how little time Frando had to conceive it. He must have more talent than either you or I credited him with."
"Who knew?" she marveled.
Matteo sighed. "Tzigone, why do you insist upon telling such outrageous tales?"
"It keeps me in practice," she said with a shrug, then patted the wooden bench. "You might as well have a seat. We could be here for a while."
"Until the magehound is summoned," he said grimly. "Do you realize how serious this situation is?"
She met his eyes. "All my life I have been pursued by wizards and magehounds," she said quietly. "Once before I was caught. I escaped, but not before I learned exactly how serious the situation can be. Here's a tall tale you can believe: If I don't get out, I'm dead."
Matteo nodded slowly. "Then you are a wizard after all."
"Must you keep singing that dreary tune?" she snapped. "I told you, I'm no wizard. I have never been trained, I have never gone to any of the schools, I have not even been tested for gifts."
Matteo suspected that this was true, as far as it went. He sat down beside her. "I believe that you will be slain if the law gets hold of you. But I suspect that theft is the least of your crimes."
"Compare my situation to yours," she suggested. "I've been a street entertainer, making my way by doing tricks that supposedly had nothing to do with magic. If fraud is proved, there's a price to pay. Same as with the jordaini."
He thought of Andris and of the price that had been exacted from his friend.
He couldn't stand quietly by while that happened again. After a moment he looked up and let Tzigone see the resolve in his eyes.
The girl nodded and then began to plot. Matteo could almost see the gears working behind her eyes, as if she were one of the queen's clockwork creatures.
"I want you