The White Road - Lynn Flewelling [30]
So he'd waited, and seen his chance when word had come that the exile and his talimenios were returning to Aurenen on business for Queen Phoria. For the sake of his clan, Ulan had risked the collective honor of Viresse by facilitating the raid and capture of Alec of Kerry and, according to the alchemist's request, Seregil as well. It was capture or kill him outright, anyway, given Seregil's devotion to his talimenios. Under different circumstances, Ulan would have admired him for that.
And just when the whole gamble was about to fall his way, this disaster.
"Khirnari?"
Ulan started slightly, not having heard Elisir come in; it wasn't the first time he'd gotten caught up in memories when he should be concentrating on the present. The body was not the only thing that lost strength with age. "What is it?"
"They told me downstairs you've made a guest of that wretch."
Ulan smiled. "I offered him kindness, but no formal pledge of hospitality. That can wait until I find some use for him."
"I see. Well, what do you want me to do now?"
"Keep watching. Use every resource. They've left Gedre. I want to know where they go and if they have a child with them. If they're dead, I want proof."
"Yes. But, Uncle, if I may? Why is this child so important?"
"Nephew, have I ever given you cause to doubt my judgment?"
"No, of course not. I was simply curious."
"I understand. However, I must rely completely on your trust in me, and your best discretion. Now, where do you think they'll go from Gedre?"
"Bokthersa, or perhaps back to Rhiminee? According to my Skalan spies, there's no love lost between him and the current queen, so it's more likely he'll go to ground among his own."
"I cannot afford to take any chances. Rally your spies in Skala, as well. Capture them if they are in Skala, but simply send word if you find them in Bokthersa. We can't risk making Adzriel a Illia our enemy. Seregil may be teth'brimash, but his sister will never consider him so."
"As you wish, Uncle."
Ulan waited until his nephew was gone, then had the servants help him out of the water. His body moved more easily now; the bath had eased his swollen joints, allowing him to sleep tonight, but the pain would be waiting for him in the morning.
Ilar was sitting up in bed when Ulan entered and took his seat the following morning. Ilar looked no better today, still haunted and gaunt, eyes wild and filled with distrust, but he seemed a bit more lucid.
"Good morning, my dear fellow. And how are you today?"
Ilar glanced nervously around the room. "Am I really in Aurenen?"
"You are indeed. If you're feeling up to it, can you tell me more of what happened in Plenimar?"
Ilar closed his eyes as if he was in pain. "It was Seregil. He escaped somehow--and he saved me. People died--Ilban was going to sell me, flogged me--"
Ulan waited patiently, trying to piece together what he was hearing. Clearly Ilar's memories from that time were still painful and disjointed.
"Seregil came back--not for me ... I don't know why. Alec hates me, but he--And Ilban ... He's dead."
"How did they kill your ilban?" Even free, Ilar still called Yhakobin "master." Some of the slaves Ulan had ransomed back from Yhakobin never lost the habit; their very souls were crushed. Many of them killed themselves soon after their return. Only the ones who hadn't been in captivity more than a few months ever really recovered. "What about the rhekaro?" Ulan prompted.
"Stole it, stole me."
"Who did? Seregil?"
But Ilar did not seem to hear him. "I showed the way. I did!" he cried angrily. "We walked for days and days." He subsided as quickly as he'd angered, and his gaze began to wander, taking on that vague, glassy look tinged with panic. "It rained so hard! There was no ..."
Ulan quelled an impatient sigh. "The rhekaro, Ilar. What does the rhekaro look like?"
Ilar shuddered. "The moon. A bone ... No, the moon. Alec called him that ..."
"And the wings?"
Ilar shook his head.
This was not good news. Yhakobin