The Savage, the golden elf, stood in front of her, his weight on his back foot, his greatsword in his hands. Only he was undiminished by the lady s brightness, her opposite, perhaps, his yellow hair glowing in the torch fire, his black clothes a source of darkness as she seemed a source of light. She stared at him, spoke a few soft words in Elvish, then lapsed into the Common tongue, Please, my cousin, put up your weapon. I mean no harm. I believe you have a secret you might share with us someday, or else share with yourself, but I won t say anything about that. You also, my little cousin, she continued, pointing her slender forefinger at the gnome. You have nothing to fear. I have not come here for revenge, whatever crimes you have committed. You see in me a simple eladrin maiden, here to greet you on behalf of whom? The Fingernails, is that it? No the Talons. Forgive me for my lack of skill in your language no, the Claws, that s it. The Claws of Winterglen. Such a violent name! You must excuse Captain Rurik he could not come himself. He had an engagement that could not be broken. So he sent me.
She shrugged a little, turned in a half circle, then took a few staggering steps. You must forgive me. I had something to drink while I was waiting. And I ve brought something for you. I thought you might be hungry after a tenday of biscuits and dried sausages.
Behind her in the Palace of the Moon, a new light shone among the columns of the portico and from the stone window frames, a row of empty arches save for the greenish glow. None of the crew had for a moment relaxed their vigilance, unless you could count Lord Aldon Kendrick, besotted by the beauty of the girl in front of him. He wiped his lips, wagged his big head back and forth on his long neck.
Yes, he said, making a motion to the others. You may stand down.
They didn t move until Lukas gave the signal, stepping forward as he replaced the arrow in his quiver. They found themselves moving, he imagined, through a trap made of spider silk rather than steel, and it was not with steel that they could free themselves. And though the air was thick with menace, he felt instinctively it was not meant for them, the members of his crew, and that the trap would tighten only if he resisted.
Aldon Kendrick, though, was already caught. The golden elf sheathed his greatsword on his back and stepped aside. Kendrick replaced him, and as the lady stumbled from feigned drunkenness he took her by the elbow. She thanked him with her smile and drew him forward into the portico, where Lukas could see a table had been spread for them, or else for Kendrick alone there was one silver plate, one knife and fork, one silver goblet, one chair. It occurred to him she knew the others were not so stupid as to eat or drink anything she gave to them, which left only Kendrick.
Even two days before he might have intervened to save the man from his own innocence and foolishness. But he had brought this danger on himself. Lukas already knew that Kendrick weak when he should have been strong, obstinate when he should have given way would tolerate no opposition to his orders, and he had ordered them to lay their weapons down. Lukas was nothing if not dutiful. He raised his hand, and his crew gathered round.
The lady favored him with a complicit, conspiratorial smile as she drew Kendrick to the carved chair and sat him down and poured a cup of wine for him. So vain he was, Lukas imagined, that it never occurred to him to wonder why there was only one place set. It was the honor due his rank. On board the Sphinx he d never dined with them. He was too proud. Instead he had preferred the single cramped, uncomfortable cabin below decks.
Now he took off his cap and gloves and bowed his head. The lady curtsied and drew up a stool. She had her own cup of wine, but she didn t drink. Instead she made a gesture with her finger, and Lukas could hear, as if at the limit of his hearing, a sound that was like music.
Please, my lord, she said. Am I right in thinking you are Aldon Kendrick, worthy and handsome cousin to King Derid in Callidyrr? Yes, the family resemblance is too strong. You must allow a simple maiden to entertain you, while you wait for Captain Rurik please, whatever you desire
Kendrick sipped his wine.
Oh, that was too easy, smiled the lady. She turned her head toward Lukas and the rest, where they had gathered on the portico. Come sirs, and you also, she continued, indicating the golden elf and the gnome. Cousins, and you, sir, she said to Lukas, let me thank you for not resisting me. Death comes so soon for your kind. So soon, but not today. That would have been a shame. Besides, I have need of you strong soldiers! Brave warriors. And loyal, too! Loyal until death. No, I am teasing. This fellow, how much was he paying you?
Just at the limit of his hearing, a sound that was like music, a violin, perhaps, and then a pipe. Lukas could almost hear it better when he wasn t listening. You knew we were coming, he said. The men who hired us to protect him, I think now they must have wanted us to fail.
The lady laughed. Do you now? Captain, you have a suspicious nature. But let me ask you this: If you don t manage to defend him, despite your best effort, will you forfeit your reward? Or were you prudent enough to take your payment in advance? No matter whatever coin was promised, I will double it.
She had stood up from her stool, and now she stood behind Kendrick s chair, her long hand caressing his cheek as he goggled and drooled, his freckled face empty of understanding, his big head wagging back and forth.
For days Lukas had despised him. Now, seeing him helpless, he could only feel pity. I ll take him back, he said. He s a cousin of the king. He ll require him breathing, at least, though it is obvious this mission was not intended to succeed.
The lady was dark-haired, bright-skinned, with long golden eyes. She smiled, and drew her thumb along Kendrick s shaven jaw, across his throat. Ah yes, his mission, to a nonexistent army of assassins and rebels. The Claw. She mimed the word with her curved fingers. Is this something I should fear? I don t think so. Not when I ve received another message from another Kendrick oh, this king has many cousins. I am envious. Captain, she told him, I believe you ve been misled, as you yourself have guessed. What you see here is the successful end to your endeavor, we can agree. Why would you bring his lordship all this way, just to take him back again? No. This is a job well done.
Lukas looked around at the faces of his crew, gathered around the table. Gaspar-shen, the genasi, stared down at the tabletop, spread with pies and jellies and roasted meats that gave off no smell at all. The energy lines on his bald forehead glowed with a lambent flame.
Kip, the little shifter, catlike and quick, reached his padded hand out for a pear then drew it back. His fingernails retracted.
Now that you mention it, said Lukas, usually we re paid half in advance. This time we had debts against the crown, which were dismissed by the high procurator.
He promised you the rest?
Yes. Lukas made a calculation, doubled it, then doubled it again. Three hundred gold pieces.
Ah, so you see. But let me promise you, Lord Kendrick s safe return was not part of your contract. On the contrary. Cousins of kings, they hate each other, always.
Lord Kendrick s forehead was high and bald, his hair drawn back in a queue, which normally he coiled under his velvet cap. The lady took it in her hand. She pulled back his head to show his throat and his protruding larynx, which convulsed as he swallowed. It doesn t matter, continued the lady. You humans now, tomorrow, what does it matter? You understand she indicated with her golden eyes the gnome and the elf these others, what does it matter? What can they expect, fifty years, sixty years more? But I was already old when Caer Corwell fell, in the Year of Risen Elfkin. From the battlements I watched those other Kendricks dance on the scaffold, King Derid s great-uncle, or great-great-uncle they breed like mice, or weasels. Now here s another one. He lives, he dies, in the blinking of an eye.