Of a sudden, wildly, he feared Morgaines own capabilities. She slipped so easily into mad Kasedres vein, well able to play the games he played and tread the maze of his insanities.
Vanye reckoned again his worth to his liyo, and wondered whether she would yield him up to Kasedre if need be to escape this mad hall, a bit of human coin strewn along her way and forgotten.
But so far she defended her rights with authoritative persistence, whether for his sake or in her own simple arrogance.
Have you been dead? asked Kasedre.
Hardly, she said. I took a shortcut. I was only here a month ago. Edjnel was ruling then.
Kasedres mad eyes glittered and blinked when she casually named a lord his ancestor, dead a hundred years. He looked angry, as if he suspected some humor at his expense.
A shortcut, she said, unruffled, across the years you folk have lived, from yesterday to now, straightwise. The world went wide, around the bending of the path. I went through. I am here now, all the same. You look a great deal like Edjnel.
Kasedres face underwent a rapid series of expressions, ending in delight as he was compared to his famous ancestor. He puffed and swelled so far as his narrow chest permitted, then seemed again to return to the perplexities of the things she posed.
How? he asked. How did you do it?
By the fires of Aenor above Pyven. It is not hard to use the fires to this purposebut one must be very brave. It is a fearful journey.
It was too much for Kasedre. He drew a series of deep breaths like a man about to faint, and leaned back, resting his hands upon that great sword, staring about at his gape-mouthed uyin, half of whom looked puzzled and the other part too muddled to do anything.
You will tell us more of this, said Kasedre.
Gladly, at dinner, she said.
Ah, sit, stay, have wine with us, begged Kasedre.
Morgaine gave forth that chill smile again, dazzling and false. By your leave, lord Kasedre, we are still weary from our travels and we win need a time to rest or I fear we shall not last a late banquet. We will go to our room and rest a time, and then come down at whatever hour you send for us.
Kasedre pouted. In such as he the moment was dangerous, but Morgaine continued to smile, bright and deadly, and full of promises. Kasedre bowed. Morgaine rose and bowed.
Vanye inclined himself again at Kasedres feet, had a moment to see the look that Kasedre cast at Morgaines back. It was, he was glad to see, still awestruck.
Vanye was shaking with exhaustion when they reached the security of their upstairs room. He himself moved the chair before the door again, and sat down on the bed. Morgaines cold hand touched his brow, seeking fever.
Are you well? she asked.
Well enough. Lady, you are mad to sample anything of his at table tonight.
It is not a pleasant prospect, I grant you that. She took off the dragon sword and set it against the wall.
You are playing with him, said Vanye, and he is mad.
He is accustomed to having his way, said Morgaine. The novelty of this experience may intrigue him utterly.
And she sat down in the other plain chair and folded her arms. Rest, she said. I think we may both need it.
He eased back on the bed, leaning his shoulder against the wall, and brooded over matters. I am glad, he said out of those thoughts, that you did not ride on and leave me here senseless with fever as I was. I am grateful, liyo.
She looked at him, gray eyes catwise and comfortable. Then thee admits, she said, that there are some places worse to be ilin than in my service?
The thought chilled him. I do admit it, he said. This place being chief among them.
She propped her feet upon her belongings: he lay down and shut his eyes and tried to rest. The hand throbbed. It was still slightly swollen. He would have gladly gone outside and packed snow about it, reckoning that of more value than Fliss poultices and compresses or Morgaines qujalin treatments.
The imps knife was plague-ridden, he said.
Then, remembering: Did you see them?
Who?
The boythe girl
Here?
In the downstairs corridor after you passed.
I am not at all surprised.
Why do you endure this? he asked. Why did you not resist them bringing us here? You could have dealt with my injury yourselfand probably with them too.
You perhaps have an exaggerated idea of my capacities. I am not able to lift a sick man about, and argument did not seem profitable at the moment. When it does, I shall consider doing something. But you are charged with my safety, Nhl Vanye, and with protecting me. I do expect you to fulfill that obligation.
He lifted his swollen hand. That is not within my capacity at the moment, if it comes to fighting our way out of here.
Ah. So you have answered your own first question. That was Morgaine at her most irritating. She settled again to waiting, then began instead to pace. She was very like a wild thing caged. She needed something for her hands, and there was nothing left. She went to the barred window and looked out and returned again.
She did that by turns for a very long time, sitting a while, pacing a while, driving him to frenzy, in which if he had not been in pain, he might also have risen and paced the room in sheer frustration. Had the woman ever been still, he wondered, or did she ever cease from what drove her? It was not simple restlessness at their confinement. It was the same thing that burned in her during their time on the road, as if they were well enough while moving, but any untoward delay fretted her beyond bearing.
It was as if death and the Witchfires were an appointment she were zealous to keep, and she resented every petty human interference in her mission.
The sunlight in the room decreased. Things became dim. When the furniture itself grew unclear, there came a rap on the door. Morgaine answered it. It was Flis.
Master says come, said Flis.
We are coming, said Morgaine. The girl delayed in the doorway, twisting her hands.
Then she fled.
That one is no less addled than the rest, Morgaine. But she is more pitiable. She gathered up her sword, her other gear too, and concealed certain of her equipment within her robes. Lest, she said, someone examine things while we are gone.
There is still the chance of running for the door, he said. Liyo, take it. I am stronger. There is no reason I cannot somehow ride.
Patience, she urged him. Besides, this man Kasedre is interesting.
He is also, he said, ruthless and a murderer.
There are Witchfires in Leth, she said. Living next to the Witchfires as the Witchfires seem to have become since I leftis not healthful. I should not care to stay here very long.
Do you mean that the evil of the thingof the fireshas made them what they are?
There are emanations, she said, which are not healthful. I do not myself know all that can be the result of them. I only know that I do not like the waste I saw about me when I rode out at Aenor-Pyven, and I like even less what I see in Leth. The men are more twisted than the trees.
You cannot warn these folk, he protested. They would as soon cut our throats as not if we cross them. And if you mean something else with them, some
Have a care, she said. There is someone in the hall.
Steps had paused. They moved on again, increasing in speed. Vanye swore softly. This place is full of listeners.
We are surely the most interesting listening in the place, she said. Come, and let us go down to the hall. Or do you feel able? If truly not, I shall plead indisposition myselfit is a womans privilegeand delay the business.