The next time Meehayi came in he was wearing a big smile and had a steaming bowl of something that wasn't broth. In fact, it was the Mouse's version of lamb stew, only for me they prepared it without meat, potatoes, or much of anything else, but it was stew rather than broth and it came with bread and a small glass of wine and it was one of the best meals I've ever had.
While I ate, he asked about my conversation with Father Noij. I tried to answer in grunts, but he wasn't having any. He was so excited about the whole thing it was as painful as—no it wasn't, but it was painful. I finally said, "Look, a lot of what you've thought was wrong, all right? It wasn't an evil Baron and a noble Count; there was no bathing in the blood of virgins or demon summoning or heroic battles. It was two bastards who wanted the same thing and went for each other's throats. Everything after that was made up to justify how it came out. Ask Father Noij. And tell me what he says, because I'm curious about whether he'll give you the same answers he gave me."
That last was unkind and Meehayi looked unhappy so I asked him if there were any girls he had his eye on and yeah there was and when he got over blushing that took over the conversation and he left feeling better.
See, I'm not such a bad guy. Really.
That night, I slept better than I had since I'd gotten out, only waking up three or four times and then falling asleep again right away; and the worst dream was the old one of being pursued by something I couldn't define. Big improvement. I was ready to take on the world, as long as the world was a bit of lamb stew.
Aybrahmis was back with one witch—the youngest of the lot—in the morning, and we went through what was becoming a ritual. He tsked and shook his head and looked generally worried and unhappy and told me I was doing fine. The witch removed my dressings and had a whispered conversation with the physicker; nice to see they were working together. Then he replaced my dressings and announced that the burns seemed to be "responding to treatment," which made it sound like they were getting better, only if they were why didn't he say so? The physicker was pleased that I'd been able to feed myself, though he cautioned me against over-exertion, which for some reason I found funny.
I asked if I could try walking soon and he looked at me like I had brain fever. I didn't think that was funny.
When they'd gone, Loiosh continued the cheerful conversation. "By now, the Jhereg has to know Mahket is dead, and someone else has to be on the way. If they use one of those professional teleport places, that knows everywhere, he could be here in a day or two."
"Yeah, okay. Does this information come with a suggestion?"
"The Count would probably arrange for you to be moved some' where safe."
"Does it come with another suggestion?"
"Boss, I wanted to get out of here before. I was right wasn't I?"
"Yes."
"Well, I want to get out of here again."
"Good thing you've used up your yearly allotment of being right."
"Boss—"
"Otherwise, I might be a bit concerned."
"Boss—"
"Leave it be."
"All right, then." He said it the way I'd say, "I'll take the brown ones, then," if they were out of the black ones. And I'd really had my heart set on the black ones.
I sighed. It wasn't as if I could blame him.
"This has been tough for us both, Loiosh. And we have a long way to go. Accept that I'm in this, and you're in it with me, and let's do the best we can from there."
There was a bit of a pause, and then he said, "All right, Boss. One way or another, we see it through"
"Thanks.”
"Back to trying to pick up Orbahn?"
"Yes. This time with Rocza so you can watch his house at the same time."
"Boss—okay"
Meehayi came and went, taking care of things, none of which are worth talking about. I ate a little more, and maybe wasn't quite as tired afterward; or maybe I just didn't want to be and convinced myself I wasn't. It's hard to judge these things.
I was just finishing lunch when Loiosh said, "Found him, Boss! Leaving the Guild hall."
"Good. Now, let's see what happens."
"Can I send Rocza back to you?"
"All right.”
A few minutes later she came back through the window and landed on the bed. She twisted her neck around as if to look into my eyes, then, very gently, bit the bridge of my nose. Then she curled up by my ear. When Loiosh wasn't busy, I'd have to ask him what that meant.
"He's heading out of town to the east, Boss. Strolling, really. It's odd. Like he's taking a walk to enjoy the day. I suppose he might be.”
I glanced out the window to see what sort of day it was. Seemed bright, and the breeze through my window wasn't excessively hot or cold.
"Any chance he's spotted you?"
"No."
"Anyone around?"
"Not so far. He's near where you and Dahni had that talk.”
"Doesn't the wood come bumping up against the road right about there?"
"Just ahead.”
"Two dead Teckla against one sincere compliment he turns off into the woods.”
"No bet. I couldn't afford to lose. And . . . yes, there he goes, off the left. It's harder to stay with him here, but less chance he'll see me.”
"Okay. I just need to know.”
"To know? Boss, is he going to meet an assassin?"
"Eh? I hope not! For one thing, I don't want there to be an assassin this close yet.
More important, it would mean everything I've figured is wrong. There's no way he
ought to be able to get in touch with the Jhereg.”
"Then, Boss, what is he going to do?"
"Wait and see."
"Is this any way to treat your familiar and best friend?"
"Evidently.”
He used a few adjectives he's known for a long time and some nouns I hadn't realized he'd picked up. I found that I was smiling for the first time in longer than I could remember.
"Okay now he's looking around and I'm being all secretive and stuff so he won't see me so I can carry out your orders which is more than you deserve."
"But you're so good at it."
"You're going to find out how good I can be at—hey! He's gone!"
"Look carefully. There should be a cave, or a, I don't know, a concealed something."
"I don't know, Boss. He's just gone."
"Keep looking."
Then, "Found it. It's a cave, lots of shrubs around it. I can't fly in, but I can slither."
"I didn't know you slithered."
"I save it for special occasions."
"Be careful.”
A little later he said, "This would be a bad place for someone with poor night vision."
"Can you see anything?"
"A little bit leaks in from the outside. After that I'm not sure."
"Can you smell anything?"