"If she does at all," Alec replied uneasily. "What do I say?"
Seregil gave him a knowing wink. "With a face like yours, I doubt conversation will be the central issue. From what you saw of her last time, I'd say our Stamie is a restless little bird ready to spread her wings. The offer of freedom may be all the charm we need. It's her fear I'm worried about. That's a suspicious, tight-run household, and she may not dare risk her own skin on your behalf. If that's the case, then you'll have to play the lover for all you're worth."
"Which may not be much," Alec muttered.
"Illior's Fingers, you're not so bloodless as all that, are you?" Seregil teased. "Use a little imagination and let things run their course. These matters have a way of directing themselves, you know."
Reaching the road that led up the gorge, they kept to the trees and climbed into the hills overlooking the keep. They left their horses tethered well out of earshot of the tower sentries and made their final approach on foot. Climbing up the tall fir tree they'd used on their first reconnaissance, they surveyed the keep.
There appeared to be the usual sort of bustle in the courtyard. A groom was currying a fine horse by the stables, and from somewhere below the walls came the sound of a workman's chisel against stone. Presently the kitchen door swung open and Stamie came out with a bucket yoke across her narrow shoulders. Eyes to the ground, she disappeared around the corner of the main building.
"Look there!" whispered Seregil, spying a small postern gate near the kitchen. From it, a well-trodden path wound off into the forest; it would be as simple as lying by a deer track, waiting for their prey to
come by.
"Look at what?" asked Alec.
"There, that small door in the wall, near the cliffs. Lean this way and fix your eye on the ruined tower,
then bring your gaze down past—"
Seregil broke off, startled by a sudden realization.
Gripping Alec by the arm, he whispered excitedly, "The tower! What's wrong with that tower?"
"Lightning, probably," Alec whispered back.
"Looks like it happened years ago and—"
He stopped, slowly mirroring his companion's sharp, hungry grin.
"And what?" prompted Seregil.
"And they never repaired it."
"Which is pretty damned strange because—"
"Because they employ some of the best masons in Skala," finished Alec. "I knew we'd missed something before, but I just couldn't see it!"
Seregil gazed at the tower with a wry grin. "There it is, right in front of us. Whatever we're here to find, I bet my best horse it's around there somewhere. All we have to do is get inside."
"Which we can't do until Stamie comes out. Maybe we should've waited for Nysander after all."
"Patience, Alec. A good hunter like you knows how to lie in wait for his quarry!"
"You're feeling guilty over not going with them, aren't you?" Kari demanded, lying close to Micum in the darkness of their bedchamber. She knew the signs; in the two days since Seregil's departure, Micum had grown increasingly restless and absent minded. Today he'd wandered from one small task to another without accomplishing anything.
"Perhaps you should have gone."
"Oh, they'll be all right." Micum shifted to hold her closer. "It's just strange that Nysander hasn't sent word."
"Then send a message down to him. One of the lads could have it there before noon."
"I suppose."
"I don't know why you're so worried. It's not as if Seregil hasn't done this sort of thing before. And two days is no time at all."
Micum frowned up at the candle shadows overhead.
"All the same, Alec's so new at these things—"
"Then send word to Nysander. I don't need you moping around like an old dog again tomorrow." Kari kissed him roughly on the chin. "Better yet, go yourself. You'll fidget me to distraction waiting about for it. You can visit Beka while you're there."
"That's a thought. She must be missing home a bit by now. But will you be all right without me?"
"Of course I will!" scoffed Kari. "You'll only be a few hours away, and I've all my women to look after me. Go to sleep, love. I expect you'll want to get an early start."
Feeling a bit guilty, Micum bypassed the Horse Guard barracks and went straight to the Orлska House. Crossing the atrium, he heard a familiar voice hailing him and turned to find Nysander and Thero striding toward him. Both were clad in stained riding clothes and boots.
"Why, good morning to you!" Nysander called. "What brings you into the city so early in the day?"
Micum's heart sank. "Didn't Seregil and Alec tell you?"
"We've been away," Thero told him. "We're just getting back now."
"Indeed," said Nysander, frowning. "I have not heard from either of them since they left for Cirna."
"That little bastard!" growled Micum. "He promised me he'd talk to you before they went. I'd never have let them go off like that if I'd known."
"What has happened?"
"He and Alec came back a couple of days ago with evidence linking Kassatie to the stolen gold. They'd been attacked on their way back from Cirna and they're convinced that was her doing, too. Seregil was all in a lather to go after her but he said he'd talk to you first."
"Perhaps he left word. Thero, go find Wethis, please. He would be the one Seregil would trust with a message. Come up to my tower, Micum.
"I am not certain I understand your concern," the wizard continued as they climbed the stairs. "Two days is not long for such work and I am certain I should have sensed if either of them had come to any great harm."
"Maybe so," Micum grudgingly agreed. "I guess I'm mostly feeling guilty about not going along with them, but Kari's pregnant again and I hated to leave her."
Thero hurried in with a rolled parchment. "They were here, and they left this for you."
Nysander unrolled the manifest and a terse scrawl from Seregil, explaining its significance.
"Well, he was obviously in a hurry to follow this lead," he said. "I will scry for them."
Seating himself at his desk, Nysander covered his eyes with both hands, murmuring the complex spell. After a moment he sat back. "It is difficult to get an exact sighting on them, but all appears to be well. Would you like to stay here for a few days, see if they turn up?"
"I think maybe I will. You'd better send a message out to Kari for me, though. And keep a weather eye on her, too, while you're at it. I'm off to see Beka now. Her mother's worried she might be homesick."
38 The Key to a Poor Girl's Heart
For three days Alec and Seregil kept their cold vigil and at last their patience was rewarded. On watch in the fir tree early the third afternoon, Alec saw Stamie emerge though the postern with a large basket on her back and set off into the woods.
Seregil was napping at the base of the tree.
Climbing down, Alec woke him and together they hurried off through the trees to strike the path ahead of the girl.
Seregil remained out of sight among the trees while Alec took up his position on a log near a bend in the trail. In the distance they could hear the girl singing to herself as she approached.
She caught sight of Alec ahead of her and halted abruptly. "Who's that there, and what do you want?" she called sharply.
"It's Elrid. Remember me?" Alec stood up slowly, praying he didn't sound as awkward as he suddenly felt. "I came looking for Lord Teukros a few days back?"
"Oh, the messenger boy from the city." Curious but still, on her guard, she stood where she was. "What are you doing back here again? And why are you lurking out here in the forest?"
"You said you wanted a position in the city," Alec replied. "I heard of one—a good one—and come out to tell you. Your aunt didn't strike me as the welcoming sort, though, so I've been waiting out here for a chance alone with you."