The Riddle - Alison Croggon [46]
“Water first!” said Elenxi, his eyes sparkling. “It is thirsty work to visit you, brother. And, then, when my thirst is slaked, we will have your fine red wine.”
“You have no shame,” Ankil said solemnly. “Surely you don’t visit me only for the wine?”
“I can’t imagine why else I would bother to climb this path,” Elenxi answered. “It’s a sore trial for an old man.”
The talk bubbled along cordially until the visitors had recovered from their climb. Then Nerili looked soberly around the table, and a silence fell over the company. To Maerad, Nerili seemed sterner than when they had last met, as if she had been through some inner struggle.
“You will know, friends, that despite the excellence of the wine, we have come here to speak of other things,” Nerili said. “I decided to come personally because I wished to speak to Cadvan and Maerad before they left.”
“Left?” said Maerad involuntarily. Cadvan’s face was in shadow, so she did not see his expression.
“Yes, it is time you two left this isle.” Nerili paused, and cleared her throat. “First, I have arranged passage for you from Thorold to Gent, with Owan d’Aroki.” Maerad’s face brightened at the mention of Owan, and then clouded as she remembered her seasickness. “He is willing to take you, and you know he is brave and trustworthy. He will pick you up from Nisa harbor four days hence.”
“That is excellent, Neri,” said Cadvan. “I thank you for your help. But I assume you have other news. The emissaries to the Seven Kingdoms have returned?”
“They have. And it is much as we guessed: all the Schools of the Seven Kingdoms have been given the same edict from Norloch. And none of them is happy about it. Like us, they have decided to bypass the challenge and wait for Norloch to break the covenant, if that is indeed what Enkir plans to do. But I am sure now that they will be allies, should the worst happen. I have not dared to send similar emissaries to Annar.”
“Innail would be of like mind,” said Cadvan. “And I think more than a few others — Til Amon, Elevé, Il Arunedh, Arnocen . . .”
“Yes,” said Elenxi. “But we cannot be so sure of Annar. The ties between Annaren Schools and Norloch are much closer than with those in the Seven Kingdoms; Enkir is still, after all, First Bard of Annar. And as times darken, with ill news from both north and south, I do not feel we can depend on their seeing rightly that Norloch betrays the covenant of Barding. Circumspection is the wisest path, I judge.”
“If word of these talks got out, we would be considered open rebels,” added Nerili. “Which, unless it is forced to the point, I would rather avoid. We are certain now that there are spies in Thorold; we know of at least one within the School. We have been openly warned by Norloch that they have information that we have assisted you, and that this will be considered a provocation to war. Unless we hand you over, of course. We have naturally denied all knowledge of you. But the noose draws close.”
Cadvan drew his lips tightly together. “I see. I suppose it is not surprising that word should have gotten out.”
“There has been a very certain sighting of both of you in Amdridh,” said Elenxi dryly. “And I believe there are rumors that you have been seen in the Suderain as well. They have no proof of your whereabouts. And they will get none.” He grinned wolfishly, baring his teeth, and Maerad felt a chill.
“Why not?” she asked with a sudden anxiety.
Elenxi turned to her, and for the first time Maerad perceived in him the implacable ruthlessness of a warrior. Involuntarily, she shivered. “I dealt with the spy,” he said.
“How did you know that he was a spy?” she said.
“Come, Maerad, you are not so simple,” he answered. “There are ways to see into a man’s mind. He shall not betray us again.”
“Did you kill him?” Maerad felt distressed; she didn’t want anyone killed on her account. Elenxi met her eyes, and his stern face suddenly gentled.
“Maerad, I would have thought you would be less queasy, knowing