Adventures Of Myhr Part 28

Debreban didn't have enough spit in his mouth to reply.

"Come now, man, answer. It's a simple question. Are those Burkus House colors?"

Debreban managed to nod.

The head, floating in red clouds, curled its lip. "b.l.o.o.d.y h.e.l.l." Darmo seemed to hear something and turned away to reply. "Sorry, just slipped out. I'm having trouble connecting with the Otherside. I think I've got hold of the wrong place." He flinched, as though in pain, then looked back to Debreban. "Isthis Burkus House? Answer me!" Desperation crept into his voice.

"Yes, sir," Debreban whispered.

"Speak up!"

"Yes, sir!"

"b.l.o.o.d.y-oh, never mind. Who are you?"

"Captain of the house guards." Remembering a cautionary tale with a particularly bad end featuring magical mirrors, Debreban knew better than to provide this being with his name.

"Where is Cadmus Burkus?" "A-at the overduke's palace for dinner. Staying the night."

"No doubt. Is this the scrying mirror in his Black Room?"

"No, sir. This is his lords.h.i.+p's dressing room mirror."

"No wonder it's taking so much power to get through. Do you know who I am?"

Debreban did his best to overcome his trembling. "You look like the late Lord Botello Darmo, sir."

" 'Look like.' Wise reply. Oh, do buck yourself up, fellow, you're in no danger. Not yet, anyway. That's better. Right, now I want you to listen carefully, I can only say this once. . . ." His voice faded as clouds blew over his face.

"What?"

The face twisted with frustration. "Oh, b.l.o.o.d.y,b.l.o.o.d.y h.e.l.l!"

Something on the Otherside happened, turning the red clouds pale green for a moment like a flare of lightning in a heavy storm; Darmo blenched in reaction, twisting in agony.

"For gawds' sake,help me!" he cried.

In the Streets Not Far From the Palace "That was very well, done, dear lady," said Cadmus, judging that they were far enough from the ducal gates to make speech safe.

"Thank you, but keep your voice down. There's Talents on watch and we don't want them reporting us,"

Velma said in a low, muttering tone.

He obligingly matched it. "Where did you learn such acrobatics?" Their recent flight from the palace involved slipping around the backstairs like ghosts to reach a side door, a hair-raising tree climb, some dicey walking along a swaying branch to get over a wall, and finally a jolting drop into darkness. It took Cadmus back to his school days and those occasions when he and the other boys found it expedient to break away from the restrictions of academics for a bit of illicit fun and frolic.

"The circus, where else? I didn't spend all my time dancing the oochie-coochie. I had a crush on a trapeze artist, then there was the tumbler, then the actor, then the . . ." She caught herself. "Never mind them. Which way to Darmo House? Everything looks so different in the dark."

Remembering that she was a relative newcomer to town, Cadmus pointed down a twisty, turny street.

"This one. It's a bit of a walk, though."

"Then let's get going. Any sign of the black fog for you?"

Cadmus frowned into the night. It looked and felt perfectly normal. That had to be wrong. "Not a wisp, and I should see it. Botello did an excellent job removing my magical energy; I've no sense for the stuff now. What a bother. I shall have words with him about it at the first opportunity, I promise you. Strongwords."

As it was very dark, she held onto his arm. That felt nice. Pity she wasn't Filima, but he would see her soon. All right, so he wouldn't be collapsed at her feet, a brave, injured warrior in need of tender succor, but bursting in on her with a spine-tingling tale of possession, unjust arrest, and narrow escapes from dungeons was just as good. He was certain Velma would put in a word or two on his behalf. She didn't out and out agree with him that his idea of a seance was utterly brilliant, but obviously thought it important enough to pursue. At any rate, it got him clear of the dungeon and the two of them away from Botello for the time being. Pity he had to leave his horse behind. He would have looked so much better galloping up to the Darmo gates with a fainting Velma in his protective arms.

Not that she'd have cooperated, but a heroic scene all the same.

"Someone's coming," she hissed.

He'd not been paying much attention and nearly stumbled as she dragged him into a small s.p.a.ce between buildings. Holding his breath, he just barely made out the sound of someone's approach. Velma pressed against him-that feltvery nice-and held her breath, too, going absolutely still.

The stranger wore boots, made no effort to be quiet, and seemed to be in a furious hurry. Cadmus saw by his faint silhouette it was a man, and one he recognized.

He stepped into his path. "Captain Debreban? What areyou doing out?"

Debreban reacted as though he'd been hit with a hot lance in a tender spot. He jumped a full yard to the side, had his sword ready in hand, and gasped out a cry of shock all in one go. Agile fellow.

"L-lord Cadmus?" he wheezed.

"The same. Is there an emergency? Why are you here?"

"Can't tell you, my lord, important errand, can't delay, have to-"

"Errand? For whom? What are you doing with that sword?" Cadmus suddenly noticed it was the black-bladed wizard-killer he'd left propped by a chair in his rooms.

"Cadmus?" Velma emerged from the shadows. Debreban jumped again, just not as far. "Who is this man?"

"This is the captain of my guards, Debreban. Actually, I want to have a word with you. . . ." Cadmus turned back to his man, who seemed on the edge of bolting. What a strange look on his face, almost as though he'd seen a- "I say, Captain, has something happened?"

"Ah, no, my lord-"

Velma stepped forward. "Of course something's happened or you'd not be out past the curfew. Is there a problem at Burkus House?"

"No problem, lady. My lord, forgive me, but I must be going."

"Not until you explain yourself," said Cadmus. Debreban peered hard at him. "And if I don't, my lord?"

The uncharacteristic challenge from a heretofore unshakably loyal man took Cadmus aback. "Well, I shall be very displeased with you, Captain.Very displeased. Now put your sword away and behave like a proper gentleman, you're upsetting Lady Velma."

Relaxing somewhat, Debreban abruptly grinned.

"Just 'Velma,' Cadmus, you know I'm not-"

"Velma?" said Debreban. "The overduke's uh-that is-"

"Girlfriend," said Velma patiently. "Is there a problem?"

"No! I've been sent to find you, to deliver a message from . . . er . . . someone." He finished up rather lamely.

"Who?"

"I can't say. I was told to speak to you and you alone." He stole a wall-eyed glance at Cadmus.

"Oh, very well," said Cadmus, taking the hint. "I'll stand over here and not listen, will that suit?"

"Yes, my lord."

Snorting, Cadmus stepped off a pace or two, put his hands over his ears, and hummed a favorite dance song. This was altogether a very aggravating situation. Shut out by his own guard captain. It smacked of intrigue or worse. Or . . . what if Debreban had a message from Filima? He'd been sent to follow her guard captain today, had made friends with him, too, according to that tavern keeper. What if she found out? Learned about his scrying? If it involved Cadmus she'd not want him to hear a single word. How b.l.o.o.d.y frustrating. Still, he was a gentleman, and ladies were ent.i.tled to their secrets. Besides, he could always catch up on things using his mirror. If he ever went near the d.a.m.ned thing again. Not likely after tonight. h.e.l.l, maybe he should just start sending her flowers like a normal suitor and d.a.m.n the expense.

Velma tapped his arm to indicate the conference was over. He let his hands drop and tried not to look too curious.

"You'll never guess," she said. "He had a message for me from Anton."

Cadmus blinked. "You're right, I never would have guessed that. How?"

Debreban again displayed reluctance. "Lady . . ."

"It's all right, Captain," she a.s.sured him. "Lord Cadmus is no longer possessed by Botello Darmo. It's Overduke Anton he's using now. Anton doesn't know that Cadmus is free."

He shook his head and frowned, indicating a low opinion of the magical leapfrogging. "Very well . . ."

Debreban launched into a lightning-quick report of the recent goings on in Cadmus's dressing room mirror, which had to do with things they already knew: that Botello had traded places with Anton andwas up to no good. Cadmus's questions bunched up so fast behind his teeth that he had trouble speaking in a coherent manner.

"So Lord Anton is all right?" he finally managed to blurt.

"Of course not," said Velma. "He's in h.e.l.l, trapped in Botello's astral body. That's verynot all right."

"I meant he isn't being tortured or anything."

"He didn't specifically mention that, my lord," said Debreban. "I think he was being closely watched by . . . something. But he didn't look at all well and was in a great hurry to leave."

"No doubt. If it was truly Lord Anton and not some Otherside deception. Are you certain?"

Debreban had to admit to a shortage of certainty about many recent events.

"I'mpositive it was Anton," said Velma. "He told the captain to remind me of a backrub I gave this morning as proof. Botello would know nothing about that."

"Backrub?"

"Yes. I happen to be very good at them. Now let's get going to your place."

"Not Darmo House?"

"Yours. So we can talk to Anton in your mirror."

"But Filima has a quite nice scrying mirror." He was not ready to give up his quest to see her.

"And a wizard," added Debreban.

That was unexpected. "A wizard?"

"Ah, yes, my lord. I learned about him during that-ah-errand you put me on this morning. He was ailing a bit, but I was told he's quite clever."

"Wizard?" Cadmus repeated, trying to remember the specifics of the day's errands . . . Debrebanwas supposed to follow the Darmo House guard.Cadmus had been told to go looking for wizards. Wizard.

One with a cat's face on. So he'd taken shelter with Filima. Botello would be furious, but sod him.

"Yes, my lord. The wizard's friend is a friend of Captain Shankey of Darmo House, and the two of them were taking him there the last I saw. I was given to understand he needed to be in a protected area as his magic was being drained off."

By Botello who'd wanted to finish dining off the wizard. Greedy b.u.g.g.e.r. "Oh-ah-interesting. Then we should go meet the fellow and see if he can lend us a hand with this mess."

"I thought all the Talents were missing or on watch," said Velma.

"He's newly come to Rumpock, lady," Debreban explained. "Looked a bit washed out, though." "But Filima will still have some magical energy left for us, I'm sure," Cadmus urged. "And a mirror. It'll be safer, too. Once Botello notices we're gone Burkus House will be the first place he looks."

"And Darmo House the second," Velma pointed out. "We'll sort it later, let's just get moving."

"Yes! Pleasedo get moving!" a woman cried from a window directly above them. "People are trying to sleep, y'know!"

A chorus of annoyed agreement erupted from lots of other windows overlooking the street.

"Move along, ye b.l.o.o.d.y toffs!"

"Some of us have to work in the morning!"

"Have some consideration!"

"Call the Watch!"

"Plug yer flippin' pie hole!"

"You plug yers!"

Swallowing embarra.s.sment, for a true gentleman never makes a nuisance of himself, especially in public, Cadmus seized both Velma and Debreban by their arms and hauled them away, double-time.

The Palace Dungeon Captain Rockbush had a singularly unpleasant awakening. Not only did he have the most awful, horrible agony in his crotch and head, but the overduke himself was yelling at him for some reason. He had served in the palace man and boy for thirty years, and never in that time had the overduke raised his voice to anyone, much less cursed them out. Something was very seriously wrong. His lords.h.i.+p was positively screeching.

What happened, you dolt? Who helped him get away? Did he bribe you? Was that it? Where is he, you witless, brainless b.a.s.t.a.r.d! Where IS he?

One question after another hammered at him as he lay on the stone floor, each more insulting than the last. Rockbush would have attempted a reply, but was far too occupied dealing with nasty physical distractions. What had happened? The last thing clear in his mind was something to do with Lord Cadmus. Arresting him . . . then that fine-looking lady had come along and stopped things. Females just didn't understand the law. Took a bit to get her to come around, and then shehad come around and . . . Rockbush groaned.

How had he ended down on the floor like this and in this condition? Obviously the overduke had no clue to offer, not with the fit he was throwing.