“I will be there,” he reminded her. And then he added grudgingly, “Leesil’s plan should work, though he should not have involved you.”
Wynn stifled a sigh. Chane had been fretting enough for both of them about her part in what was to come. But yes, the plan should work. Getting Rodian to agree to what she asked in Shade’s message would help in that. All they could do now was wait.
“We should get you to the room,” she said.
Chane didn’t move.
“What’s wrong?” she asked.
“There is something I haven’t told you. Shade knows ... but for some reason, she did not pass you any memories or try to tell you of it.”
“Tell me what?”
Chane glanced away, and then blurted out, “I have managed to create a concoction, a potion, that allows me to remain awake during the day. I cannot go outside, but I will not fall dormant. I wish to be awake today, to help with preparations.”
Wynn stared at him. “A potion? What ... how long have you ... ?
He raised one hand to ward off questions. “For some time. I feared telling you because some of the components are questionable, and I based my experiments on a sample I obtained from Welstiel.” He looked her straight in the eye before she could say anything about the last part. “You are the one who said we can no longer afford to refuse help on our side ... from wherever it is offered. My being awake today will be helpful.”
Wynn just stood there, taking this in. Chane could be awake during the day?
Once, she would’ve exploded at him for touching anything, using anything, that had ever belonged to Welstiel. She couldn’t deny that the pack of toys Chane had taken from Magiere’s undead half brother had been of some use. From the brass ring he now wore to the etched steel hoop that conjured heat, there had been more than one moment when they wouldn’t have succeeded in past endeavors. But the thought of Chane re-creating anything uncovered by Welstiel and then consuming it ...
To her surprise, though she was concerned, she wasn’t angry. She’d never admit it, but the thought of having his help all day brought relief. One part was almost unbelievable, though.
“Shade has known about this?” Wynn asked.
“For a short while, just after she and I escaped from the guild.”
“Why would Shade ever keep a secret for you?”
“I have wondered,” he said. “It might be the ways of the majay-hì. Or ... she’s more pragmatic than you know.”
Wynn started slightly as the implications sank in. “So, yesterday, all day, you were just lying there on the floor, pretending to ... sleep ... and she knew it?”
Chane nodded once. Of all that Chane or Shade had ever done in Wynn’s company, this struck her as the most unsettling. They’d both been a pain in her backside with their separate overprotectiveness. Now they were in actual collusion about it.
“And there are side effects to this potion, aren’t there?” she said. “That’s what all that hiding away on the sea voyage to the Lhoin’na was about. You were ... sick ... every time you finally came out of your cabin.”
He didn’t—couldn’t—deny it.
“It is nothing that will hinder me,” he replied. “I am accustomed to it now, so long as I do not prolong its use too far. I simply wanted you to know.”
Shade was well on her way to Rodian, and right now, they had a great deal to accomplish. Wynn walked past Chane and headed for the stairs.
“Let’s get to work on those boots.”
But soon enough, Wynn was going to make Chane show her everything—including anything else he was hiding in Welstiel’s pack of twisted little toys. And Shade had better not be in on any more of it.
Rodian stepped from the barracks that housed his office and walked out into the courtyard of the second castle that housed Malourné’s military. The sun was just cresting the keep’s forward wall, and he knew it was too early to check in with the High Advocate.
It was the morning of the third day since he’d been summoned before Prince Leäfrich, and he hadn’t slept all night.
So far, Rodian had been unable to convince the High Advocate to grant him a general warrant, but this didn’t surprise him. The prospect of Shyldfälches pounding on doors was disruptive to the peace, yet Rodian hadn’t given up. Last evening, he’d succeeded in convincing the advocate to send word to the royal family about his request. He had a feeling it would be granted.
Prince Leäfrich was likely under great pressure from the Premin Council to find Wynn.
Rodian slowed as he passed through the courtyard and watched the shadows of the keep’s wall creep away as the sun rose higher. Even without the warrant, he’d not been idle.
His men swept the city on double duty, even gaining some of the military’s regulars for assistance. All district constabularies had been alerted and given descriptions of Wynn Hygeorht and her wolfish black dog, with orders to detain either. So far, it seemed as if the little, precocious sage had just vanished.
Rodian rubbed his tired eyes, and then the sound of barking cut through his overburdened thoughts.
“Here! Stop that!” someone shouted. “Wait ... isn’t that ... ? Get it!”
The barking only increased, mixed with snarls that echoed up the gatehouse tunnel.
It took only an instant before Rodian bolted into the tunnel.
The outer portcullis was already raised, and he doubled his pace. As he rushed out the tunnel’s other end, he found three of the regulars trying to encircle a tall, charcoal black dog, which was snarling and snapping as it evaded them.
Shade was quick and agile, and gave them a lot of trouble.
One soldier spotted Rodian and held back for an instant. “Sorry, Captain. We can’t get a grip on it ... without getting bit.”
Shade spun around, and at the sight of Rodian, she froze. Her racket dropped to a steady rumble.
He had no idea why his appearance would halt the dog in her place, and then he spotted one oddity. Wynn’s dog had never worn a collar that he’d ever seen, yet a strip of gray wool was tied around Shade’s neck. There was a piece of paper wrapped around that fabric.
“Back off, all of you!” Rodian ordered.
The three regulars exchanged confused glances but obeyed, standing poised around Shade but well out of reach. Slowly, cautiously, Rodian took two steps.
“Easy, girl,” he said.
Shade continued to tremble and rumble, but she stood there watching him. Stranger still, she took a step toward him, though it made him hesitate in turn. Much as he wanted to know what was on that paper, he had no desire to get bitten. Shade was rather a large animal, and easily had the advantage of height over any common wolf.
The closer Rodian came, Shade matched him in slower steps, and grew quiet. Reaching down, he ripped the note off the collar and took a step back. He peeled open the torn paper, quickly reviewing its contents. He’d already guessed whom it was from. The note was short, but when he finished reading, he was left mentally numb.
Part of him wanted to curse; another part nearly melted in relief. He read the brief note again and weighed the scales of what Wynn was asking him to do—with no explanation and no promise on her part.
What choice did he have?
He could certainly pin down and lock up Shade, and make Wynn come to him to get the dog back. But that wouldn’t get him the answers he wanted—needed—for what was going on inside the guild and between its Premin Council and the royals.
No ... he had no choice. But he needed a quill and paper if he was to answer Wynn’s note. He looked down at Shade, who tilted her head.