A Dagger of the Mind (The Imperial Metals) (12 page)

Chapter
19: Sandora and Landora

Eric hosted Duncan’s company for several hours, until the sun rose. Duncan and Nuria recounted the tale of the battle in Hartstone in which, they said, Vye had been killed. Afterwards, he asked many questions about the two attackers, none of which Duncan or Nuria could answer to his satisfaction.

“This riddle disturbs me,” Eric concluded. “As I said when you first climbed to the Lunapera, I have been tracking a powerful, magical force for days now. I must assume that it is related to this attack.”

“What can we do to help?” Duncan asked.

“We will have to rest before we can learn anything more,” Eric said. “But the bigger problem is time. I am escorting the Regent to Anuen in less than three days now for the Peace Festival. And since Vye is dead, I am the only one left on the continent who can Shadow Travel.”

“We must give them some assistance,” Orlean insisted.

“We will,” he answered. “I will leave behind my best student to help you. But...”

He glared at Sir Noble before falling into silence. Orlean realized what he was thinking.

“There must be another,” he urged him, now speaking in the Turin language.

“The twins are not well-trained enough,” Eric retorted in Turin, “And I will be with the Regent in a foreign country.”

“What’s the matter?” Duncan asked, also in Turin.

“It is nothing,” Eric said. “Let me set you a place to rest. I know you haven’t slept this night, but I think some of you haven’t slept well for several nights.”

Eric had a cave nearby, where small cots and supplies were stored. The three Rone travelers were told to make themselves at home and get some rest. Duncan fell asleep immediately...

---

Nuria woke first. Despite her fatigue when she had gone to bed, she awoke full of energy, as though seven hours of slumber had cleared her sleep slate. She could see that the others were still out, so she left the cave to get some fresh air.

When she stepped out, she realized most of the day had disappeared. The sun was already settling over the western hills, and the shadows grew long. Nuria stretched her legs, and without even thinking, began to climb the side of the cave wall. When she was perched over the mouth of the cave, she saw a tree that crawled up the rock face. So she began to climb that.

And that’s when she met Landora.

“Hello,” Landora said. Nuria was startled to find someone else sitting in the same tree she had decided to climb. Unfortunately, she didn’t know the Turin language.

“I’m sorry,” Nuria said, “I don’t know your language.”

“It is alright,” Landora said in stilted Rone, “I know some of yours.”

“My name is Nuria.”

“I am Landora, a member of the Turin-Guarde. I am here to help you and your friends.”

And as if to demonstrate, she hefted the young girl up to her branch, so the two could sit side-by-side. From this height, Nuria could see further out into the mountains and trees.

“Where are Eric and Orlean?” she asked.

“They had to leave, to prepare for the journey to your capital.”

“Aren’t they going to Shadow there?”

“Of course, but in the meantime, they need to take council over the news that you bring.”

“You said your name is Landora?”

“Yes.”

“I know in the Turin tradition, siblings often have rhyming names...”

“I do not understand,” Landora admitted.

“Brothers and sisters. Their names sometimes sound the same.”

“Yes. I have an older sister, Andora. And a younger brother named Andor.”

“And no other siblings? Brothers or sisters?”

“I had another. Sandora, my second oldest sister. But she died in the War.”

“I see.”

“You are worried,” Landora recognized, “Because one of your group is Sir Noble, who killed my sister?”

“The thought did cross my mind,” Nuria said. But seeing Landora’s confusion, restated, “Yes. I am worried about that.”

“Do not fear. My feud with Sir Noble is secondary to my allegiance to the Turin-Guarde. My Master has ordered me to accompany your group and keep you safe. I will not betray those orders.”

“Can you really forgive him because you were ordered to?”

“I have not forgiven him. I will never forgive him. But by my honor and my family’s name, I will do no harm to Sir Noble, and I will do my best to assure that no harm comes to him. Or to any of you.”

“Looks like you’ll get to meet him now.”

Nuria pointed down to the cave entrance, where the men were stumbling into the blinding horizon of the setting sun. Sir Noble was already back in his full gear. Dressed like the Knight he was.

“Shall I introduce you?” Nuria asked, gently.

“I must meet him eventually,” Landora agreed. The two scampered down the tree. And though Landora was almost a decade older than Nuria, she was just as small and limber, and was a match for her furtive movements. She had the grace of a dancer. They descended over the side of the cave, coming face-to-face with Duncan and Noble.

“I am Landora, a member of the Turin-Guarde and your guide in our lands. Orlean and Master Eric left me behind to help you.”

“My name is Duncan. I’m here representing the Magistrate of Rone. I see you’ve met Nuria, our own mage,” Duncan gestured to the young girl. “This is Sir Noble, who’s just here to protect me.”

“Landora’s older sister was Sandora,” Nuria said, thinking she was helping.

And for a moment, Landora and Sir Noble glared at one another. Duncan was regretting his decision to bring him along more and more with each passing moment.

“Listen--” Duncan began to explain.

“Sir Noble, Master Duncan, as I have explained to Nuria, you have nothing to fear from me. I am honor-bound to be sure no harm comes to any of you. And in good faith, Sir Noble, I return your sword to you.”

She extended the blade across her palms, presenting it to the Knight. Noble accepted the gift, bowing slightly and awkwardly, and sheathed his sword.

“Shall we begin our journey?” Landora asked when the ritual ended.

“You know where we’re going?” Duncan asked.

“I know where to begin. Into the heart of the Turinheld. Into Argos’ Sanctuary.”

“I thought the Lunapera was his Sanctuary.”

“No. This is a mystical place, and many Turin have trained here to learn magic. But this is not where he would go to be alone. And even since his death, none have dared to enter that place. But if there are other powers in the world using magic on his level, then this place will likely be our best and closest clue.”

“Is it dangerous?”

“Almost certainly,” Landora said, before turning on her heel and striding off into the forest. Duncan and Noble exchanged a look of concern before the company followed behind her.

Chapter
20: The Lady Vivian

Twenty Years Ago...

Michael knocked twice on the door.

The small room on the fourth floor was rarely ever closed. It was a corner room that had been fitted with a few comfortable seats and a bookshelf full of perfunctory books. Michael’s father had bothered to call it the Study, but Michael wasn’t impressed.

However, he did have reliable intelligence that Lady Vivian was in the room at the moment.

“You may enter,” said the sonorous voice from the other side of the door.

Michael found Vivian sitting in one of the very plush chairs, reading a small, leather-bound volume. She barely acknowledged him as he bowed.

“Lady Vivian,” he said.

“You didn’t bring my tea.”

“No.”

She looked up again.

“You’re not the steward, are you?”

“I am Michael Deliem, at your service.”

“You’re Alex’s son?”

“One and the same.”

“A pleasure to make your acquaintance, I’m sure.”

“The pleasure is all mine.”

“Of course it is,” she  joked. “Please sit.”                                                                                                                             

Michael chose a seat directly to her left, instead of the obvious available one across from her. His move was not a mistake.

“What are you reading?”

She leaned over sideways to show him the book, “Some boring old account of the winter of ’55.”

“Why are you reading it, if it’s so boring?”

“Not much else to pass the time with around here these days. Usually, Alex keeps me…busy, but he left yesterday.”

“Take a walk with me.”

“Oh, I couldn’t. Your father didn’t even want me to meet you.”

“You haven’t kicked me out of the room yet.”

“Well, in here, it doesn’t matter. Perhaps the steward will show up with my tea someday, but otherwise we should be relatively undisturbed. But if we were to take a walk, someone would most certainly see us.”

“How terrible that would be,” Michael said in a mocking tone, which elicited a smirk from Vivian.

“You might not think very highly of me, Michael, but I know my place. I’m a mistress. I’m not supposed to advertise my presence around the Castle.”

“Beauty such as yours can’t help but be noticed.”

Vivian laughed a hearty laugh, but Michael felt it was directed more at him than with him.

“Was that your attempt at flattery? I applaud your effort, I really do.”

“It couldn’t have been that bad.”

“Well…”

“I mean, to earn that kind of laugh? I couldn’t have been that far off the mark.”

“You were trying to tell me I’m beautiful? You’re going to have to do better than just calling me beautiful. You’re going to have to be specific. What about me do you find beautiful?”

Vivian put the book down and sat up straight. Michael couldn’t be sure, but he thought she was puffing out her chest. He could swear she was trying to make her bosom even more prominent.

“Come on,” she goaded him with a playful tone, “What’s the first thing you noticed about me.”

Michael opened his mouth, but couldn’t figure out what to say.

“You’re taking a long time. I’m starting to doubt that I’m beautiful at all.”

“You have pretty eyes.”

She immediately closed her eyes.

“What color are they?”

Michael didn’t answer. She opened her eyes, a boring shade of brown.

“Not the most luminescent color you’ve ever seen, I’m sure.”

“Your lips?” Michael tried.

She leaned in closer to him, making an exaggerated pout.

“Really? I’ve always found my lips to be somewhat commonplace.” She smacked them together. “I mean, perhaps if you had kissed them, you would know more about them. But are they really something to look at?”

Michael found himself sitting at a very intimate distance with Vivian’s lips. He had to admit she was right. They were just lips. But at the suggestion that he kiss them, he suddenly felt very awkward. It’s not that he didn’t want to kiss them. It’s just that he was sure she was making fun of him.

He cleared his throat and shifted backwards into his seat. Vivian immediately sat up straight again, and this time Michael was sure she was pushing her breasts out.

“I’ll give you two more guesses.”

“Two guesses, you say?” Michael said, his eyes darting to her breasts and back again.

“Just two.”

“I think I’m in trouble.”

“How so?”

“I fear if I don’t give you an answer, you’ll be insulted. But if I give the answer I think you’re seeking, I’ll insult you even more.”

“How shall we solve this quandary?” Vivian asked, very playfully.

“I’ll have to give you a gift.”

“A gift? How wonderful.”

“But you shall have to take a walk with me.”

“We are right back at the beginning. I should not be seen about the Castle, especially in your company. Your father would not approve.”

“My father is away. Harold Rutherford is a fool and Lord Vye doesn’t care. Please, walk with me so that I can
apologize for the insult.”

“Very well, I accept.”

They stood and walked out of the room. They traversed the length of the Castle in silence, as Michael led her all the way out of the third floor exit, which was also on ground level because of the hill. He went to the stables and brought her to her favorite horse. It was currently fitted with Michael’s old saddle, which had been polished and re-oiled.

“The saddle?” Vivian noticed.

“I spoke to Kern, and he tells me you’ve spent a considerable amount of time in here, and that this is your favorite horse.”

“It’s lovely, thank you,” she said, and she kissed him on the cheek.

“Shall we take a ride? There’s a very beautiful path up the eastern hill.”

“Michael, I don’t know how to ride.”

“You never learned to ride?”

“My father never let my sister or me ride. He said Ladies should ride in carriages.”

“Well, then, we shall have to disobey both of our fathers today.”

“Michael, I’m not dressed for riding.”

“You’re fine. Come, we’ll go out to the fields over that way. Nobody will see us.”

Vivian looked as though she was going to argue again, but Michael quickly opened the stable doors and took her horse out. She let her protests fall away as Michael led them out into the field.