The Wyvern's Spur - Kate Novak [62]
"Giogioni Wyvernspur! Just what do you think you're doing here?" a female voice barked.
Giogi started awake. He had no idea how long he'd slept, but if Aunt Dorath caught him napping, a minute would be as bad as an hour. Aunt Dorath was of the opinion that a healthy young person did not need to sleep in the day, and Giogi could hardly offer her the excuse that he was tired because he'd been out late drinking with Samtavan Sudacar.
The young nobleman leaped to his feet. "Good afternoon, Aunt Dorath. I was just having a peek at Amber. Freffie said it was all right if I sat with her a few minutes."
"He did, did he? He would," Aunt Dorath said with a sniff. "Did he also give you permission to slough off your duties? Or have you forgotten that this family is in the middle of a crisis of unimaginable proportions? The curse of the wyvern's spur has already claimed Cousin Drone and nearly took Steele as well, yet here I find you napping."
Giogi meant to point out to his aunt that Steele had brought his injuries on himself by his horrendous behavior, and that he, Giogi, had played no small part in rescuing Steele from the jaws of death, as it were, but he was never given the opportunity. Not even magic could stop the avalanche of Aunt Dorath's harangue.
"Yet, despite his brush with the hereafter," she continued, "Steele went off immediately after lunch in search of a discreet high priest or mage who might help us locate the spur. Of course, you've made discretion rather unnecessary, haven't you? I've just learned that our family's tragedy was the talk of every tavern in Immersea last night. No wonder you can't stay awake-you were carousing in town all night, discussing family business, both of which I specifically forbade you to do."
"But I didn't mean-" Giogi began to say.
"I will not accept your overindulgences with alcohol as an excuse for divulging our family's problems, nor for sleeping when you should be performing some task that will aid in the spur's recovery. The only person with any excuse for resting on this day is Gaylyn. And Amber, of course. Even Frefford has assigned himself a task. He is investigating every stranger in town who might possibly be a long-lost relation and our thief."
Giogi's exhaustion got the better of his temper. "What about Julia? Why not just have her listen at the door of the thieves' guild?" he asked sarcastically.
Aunt Dorath's brow knit in annoyance. Her reaction was a clue to her great-nephew that she already had some inkling of Julia's eavesdropping. The old woman recovered her lost ground quickly, though. "Julia," she replied frostily, "is seeing to the arrangements for Cousin Drone's memorial service. Now, what do you propose to do in what time remains today?"
Well, Giogi thought, straightening up, here goes. "I plan to discover the spur's secret powers," he announced.
"The spur doesn't have any secret powers," Aunt Dorath snapped.
"Oh, but it does," Giogi insisted. "My father used the spurs powers whenever he went adventuring."
Aunt Dorath gave a little gasp and sank into the rocking chair. "Who told you that?" she demanded. "It was Cousin Drone, wasn't it? I should have realized his oath was not to be trusted."
"Uncle Drone didn't tell me, Aunt Dorath," the nobleman insisted. Angry with the old woman for keeping his father's ad-venturing a secret from him, Giogi felt spite take hold of him. "Actually, it's common knowledge," he taunted. "They talk about it in every tavern in Immersea."
Aunt Dorath leaned forward in the rocker and poked Giogi in the rib with her finger. "This is not a joking matter," she reprimanded him.
"No," Giogi agreed, feeling bad for trying to shock her. "It is a family matter, though." He bent over his aunt and put his hands on her shoulders. "I have a right to know about my father," he