Malediction (Scars of the Sundering Book 1) (23 page)

Holding up
his hands, Kale backed away. "I think I'm in the wrong shop."

"You
didn't want to look at hats, but you walked into a haberdasher?"

"Well,
um…" Kale knew any excuse he fabricated would likely insult the
shopkeeper.

"Oh, I
understand. You're from one of those small villages, aren't you? All the pomp
and wonder of the city is too much for you, and I came on too strong, didn't
I?" The shopkeeper put his arm around Kale's shoulders. "I know how
that feels all too well. I'm from a small village myself. Rockton. Boring
place, full of quarries and mines. All but gone now." He pulled Kale over
to a mirror and placed a bonnet on his head. The black-and-red checked pattern
on the bonnet matched Kale's scales, and a fuzzy green pom-pom crowned it.
Kale's lips curled in derision.

"Hey
now, one of my hats will make the females back home ache to raise a clutch with
you."

Kale pulled
the bonnet off his head, snagging it on one of his horns. The shopkeeper
clucked his tongue and plucked it out of Kale's hands. "All right, fine,
not your style, eh? Look around, we’re sure to have something to suit your
fancy."

"I was
just curious. That's all. We don't have shops like this back home."

The
shopkeeper pulled another hat off a rack and passed it to Kale. It was wide
brimmed, similar to the one he was wearing. Fashioned from soft, supple black
leather, one side of the brim was turned up, held in place with a bejeweled
gold pin. A pair of long silvery-black feathers swept back from the crown.

Kale turned
it over in his hands and examined it. The fine craftsmanship was evident in the
tightness of the seams and weight of the material. It was shaped to fit onto a
drak's head, as well, and when he tried it on, he noticed his horns did not
snag, but rather nestled in and helped to secure it to his head.

"Well,
that certainly makes my eggs ache." A familiar voice behind Kale startled
him. He felt clawed hands on his shoulders, and then Kali's head appeared over
his shoulder and peered at him in the mirror.

"Kali!
A pleasure to see you in the shop, as always." The shopkeeper bowed and
smiled at her. "What can I do for you?"

"Not a
thing, Calev. I saw Kale come in and thought I'd have a word with him."

Kale turned
around. "Hello, Kali." He removed the hat and held it out to Calev.

Kali pulled
his arm away. "It's on the house, isn't it, Calev? A gift for our new
friend." Kali tossed her heavy, black cloak over her shoulder. It was
lined with brown fur. Flakes of snow still encrusted the tips of the fur lining
around the hood.

The
shopkeeper's smile vanished. He titled his head and half-bowed in acquiescence.
"Certainly, Kali. Anything for you."

Kali took
Kale's arm. "Let's talk a moment, shall we?" She led him out of the
shop into the parlor and sat down on one of the benches near the tree. She took
the hat out of his hands and placed it back on his head. "It suits you. It
makes you look roguishly handsome."

"Thanks."
Kale felt his cheeks become hot and his stomach twist into knots. He clenched
his fists to keep his hands from trembling."

"I see
they let you out. Or did you escape?" Kali kept her hands on his.

"They
let us out, with an escort."

"Us?
Your sister and minotaur friend are here with you?" Kali looked around the
parlor. "I see neither them nor an escort."

Kale looked
toward the shop into which his sister disappeared but didn't see her.
"Just me and Delilah. Pancras has to stay in the palace when we're out, to
ensure we come back. The guards are nice, though. They're waiting for us in the
tavern next door."

"There
are some decent humans in this town." She picked up the edge of his cloak,
rubbing it between her fingers. "All the snow and cold, and you only have
this thin cloak and a hat. Aren't you cold?"

"No,
I'm quite warm, actually."

"Listen."
Kali stroked Kale's arm. Her touch sent shivers up his spine. "My, you are
warm." She pulled his arm close and hugged it. "Mm. I could enjoy
this." Kale shifted in his seat, trying to pull his arm away, but her grip
was too tight. "I could use your help with something."

Kale licked
his lips, aware that his mouth felt very dry.

"I'm
just waiting on Deli." Kale cast a furtive glance back at the jewelry
shop. "We're going back to the palace straightaway after she's done."

"That's
not a problem. I don't need help until tonight, anyway. Meet me in the
undercroft? By the door to the catacombs?" Kali leaned in close to Kale
and nuzzled his ear. "I'll make it worth your while." She smiled and
pulled away. "After dark. After dinner. I'll be waiting for you."

Kale could
only nod in reply. He swallowed and watched her walk away.

"Hey,
was that the drak from jail?" His sister's voice made him jump.

"Um,
yeah." Kale tossed a glance his sister's way. He thought she purchased
nothing at first, until he saw the coiled, copper bangles on her arms. He
glanced back to the entrance, but there was no trace of Kali.

Delilah
pursed her lips and shook her head. "What did she want? And where did you
get that hat?"

"She
wants my help with something tonight." He pointed at the haberdasher.
"The hat shop is over there. She got it for me."

"Oh."
Delilah cocked her head and regarded her brother for a moment. "It looks
good. Let's go get a drink."

Chapter 12

Pancras
awoke with a start to the sound of pounding on the suite doors. The fire in the
hearth burned low, and as he rubbed the sleep out of his eyes, he threw another
log on it. Sunlight streamed in through the windows, but he knew from the pink
glow on the horizon the hour was late.

He shuffled
over to the door. "Kale? Delilah. Are you two back yet?" He heard no
response and opened the door.

Lady Milena
greeted him. "Trouble with your draks?"

"No, I
thought perhaps they returned while I was dozing. What can I do for you?"
He stepped aside and gestured for her to enter.

With a shake
of her head, she declined. "His Highness demands a progress report. Please
accompany me."

"Very
well."

Pancras kept
his pace slow while he considered what to tell Prince Gavril. The snow outside
muffled everything, but the quiet served to amplify the clicking of Lady
Milena's armor as they crossed the stone floors. The snow prevented him from
having accomplished as much research as he intended. In truth, Pancras had yet
to accomplish anything to further Prince Gavril's plan, but he feared admitting
that was not a good idea.

"Are
the headaches still bothering you?"

"No,
not really." Pancras preceded her down the spiral stairs. He waited for
her at the bottom. "I have a theory about them, but I need some more time
before I am certain." Pancras suspected the dark dreams were the cause.
They seemed to be more than nightmares, but they had not recurred since his last
headache. It was one theory he was curious about; yet, at the same time hoped
he would not have an opportunity to test further.

"Prince
Gavril is in a foul mood. Be short and direct. I can't imagine you have much to
tell him since you haven't had an opportunity to do any research outside of the
palace yet, but he was insistent." Lady Milena returned the salutes of
passing guards as they entered the main hall. She led Pancras to the
antechamber where Prince Gavril awaited.

The prince
looked haggard. His hair was disheveled, and his face was covered in stubble.
Dark circles under his eyes, and loose, wrinkled clothing completed the look.
He glanced up and sighed when Pancras and Lady Milena entered the room.

"Ah,
it's about time. Leave us, Captain. I wish to speak to the necromancer
alone."

Pancras
winced. Although he had admitted to Milena he was a once necromancer, he
planned to avoid mentioning it considering her hostile reaction to him in the
catacombs. Lady Milena's face was a stone mask, however. She saluted her
sovereign and turned on her heels. Once she closed the door behind her, Gavril
spun on the minotaur.

"Tell
me you have a solution."

Pancras
chewed his lip and then shook his head. "I do not."

"Why
not? You've had days."

"I've
had days trapped inside the palace while a snowstorm raged. Your libraries are
full of poetry and historical texts." Pancras clasped his hands behind his
back and paced. The motion reduced his rising urge to throttle the human.
"The ritual you've requested of me cannot be found in those sorts of
books. If you recall, today was the first day anyone could even leave the
palace, and I spent my time tracking down the rest of the equipment I will
need."

"You
need?" Prince Gavril raised his eyebrows. "Then you know what must be
done? Generally?"

"As I
said when we first spoke, it is not something I have ever done myself, but I
have heard of such magic. Since there is no Arcane University here, I must
attempt to discover the ritual myself by working backward from various cures
for infertility that priests of Cybele, Apellon, and Aurora use. I plan to
speak to them as soon as possible."

"Tomorrow,
then?" The prince stood toe-to-toe with Pancras, thrusting his chin up in
an attempt to intimidate Pancras. Since the minotaur stood over a
head-and-a-half taller than the prince, it made him look like a petulant
toddler demanding treats from his father.

"The
humans here in Almeria don't seem overly fond of minotaurs. It may take me some
time to ingratiate myself sufficiently to learn such intimate knowledge from
them. Then, once I have the knowledge, it might take weeks, or months to
discern what I need to create." Pancras spoke slowly, as to a child.
"Once I discover the requirements, I must then create, from scratch, that
which is needed. I doubt very much I'm going to find any necromancers or
witches in town who will sell me the needed components. Otherwise, you would
have availed yourself of their services already, I should think."

Prince
Gavril threw up his hands and turned away. "Yes, yes. I have already tried
the 'remedies' recommended by those charlatans and none of them did any damn
good!" He spun around to face Pancras again. "This had better be
worth my time and money."

"What I
provide for you will work." Pancras wrung his hands together. "It may
require something from your princess: a hair, a bit of… fluid—"

Prince
Gavril waved his hand in a dismissive gesture. "Yes, yes. I hear you've
been spotted conversing with her on her morning walks. I trust you'll handle
it. Leave me. I have important business."

Pancras
bowed and left the muttering, pacing prince. Lady Milena awaited him in the
main hall. She accosted him. "Well, Necromancer?" She put
contemptuous emphasis on the word. "Ready to return to your
chambers?"

Drawing
himself up to his full height, Pancras looked down at Lady Milena. She stared
up at him with defiant grey eyes. "I can find my own way, if my presence
disgusts you that much." He turned and left her standing alone in the
great hall.

She caught
up to him by the time he reached the stairs. She grabbed his arm to stop him.

 Pancras
snorted and glared at her, narrowing his eyes.

"Please
accept my apologies. You have freely admitted to me your past and have done
nothing to earn my ire. Sometimes I forget myself in my zeal."

"You
have a very forceful grip for one filled with remorse."

Lady Milena
let go of his arm. "I am sorry."

He searched
her eyes for the truth. Pancras saw no trace of contempt or malice.
There
must be bad blood there somewhere.
"Very well. I shall want to visit a
temple tomorrow. Apellon, Aurora, Cybele. Whichever is closest."

"Yes,
Apellon is closest. There is no temple to Cybele in the city, of course, but
there is one just outside the north gate. They prefer to be closer to the farms,
you understand."

They climbed
the stairs and returned to Pancras's chambers. Lady Milena looked out over the
city as Pancras unlocked the doors. "I'll come for you after the morning
meal."

Pancras
bowed to her. "That would be fine. Have a good evening, Lady Milena."

She took a
step toward him, opening her mouth to speak, but then shut it and nodded.
"You as well."

Pancras
waited until she left. Then he shut the doors. Kale and Delilah were seated in
the armchairs, with their puzzle box and grimoire, respectively. The first
thing he noticed was Kale's wide-brimmed hat. Delilah sported a pair of coiled
bangles on her arms.

"It
would appear the two of you had a good afternoon."

"You
know"—Delilah shut her book while her brother grinned at Pancras—" I
think I'm a little jealous of the hat!"

* * *

After
dinner, Kale returned to his room and rummaged through his pack for his tools.
He secured his bandoleer and ensured all the daggers were in place. When he
turned to leave, Delilah blocked the doorway, staff in hand, tapping her foot.

"And
where do you think you're going?"

"I'm
meeting Kali in the undercroft. I'll be back." He tried to move past his
sister, but she wouldn't budge. She placed her hand on his chest, covering the
rune, and pushed him back.

"Just
what does she need your help with?"

Kale scratched
the back of his neck. "She didn't say."

"Oh
well, then, I am definitely going with you." She stepped aside to let Kale
pass.

"With
me? You want to go with me?" Kale looked at his sister in disbelief.

"I'm
not letting you go walking into the claws of that harpy all by yourself."

Pushing past
her, Kale shook his head. He wasn't about to stop her from coming with him. He
knew better than that. Pancras was on his way toward the bathing room as they
passed through the parlor.

"Where
are the two of you going?"

Kale pointed
toward the door. "Exploring the palace." Delilah scowled at him.

"I
would have thought you explored every nook and cranny by now." Pancras
grabbed a bottle of ale from the table.

"Some
crannies are worth exploring more than once." Kale grinned at Pancras but
dropped his smile when he saw his sister glaring at him.

"Be
careful. I'm heading into town early tomorrow, so I shan't wait up for
you."

Delilah
pushed her brother. "That means we need to be quiet when we come
back."

Pancras
nodded. "That will help." He disappeared into the bathing room.

Kale and
Delilah proceeded down the hallway. The snow covering Almeria reflected the
light of the King and Queen upward. The glare from the nearly full moons was
almost bright enough to cast shadows. Even though he had to stand on tiptoe to
see over the wall to observe the thin curls of smoke drifting upward from most
of the chimneys in the city, Kale imagined people huddling around their
hearths, struggling to keep warm.

His sister
pulled her cloak tighter. "Not going to tell Pancras where we're really
going, huh?"

"We're
meeting her in the undercroft. I don't know for sure that we're sneaking out.
Besides, I don't want to worry him, all right?" Kale looked one last time
across the city before stepping down the spiral stairs.

"The
undercroft. Great. More dead things." Delilah stomped along behind him.
Between her feet slapping and her claws clicking on the cold stone, it was
obvious to Kale she was deliberately noisy. He turned to her and shushed her.

"You
know, you can stay upstairs if you don't want to come. Pancras says there
aren't any more dead things in the catacombs. Well, there are, but none that
are moving around." Kale looked into the hallway from the bottom of the
stairs. He saw a guard walking away from them.

Delilah
pushed him into the hall. "Whatever. Let's just get this over with."

Neither the
guards nor the palace staff paid the draks any mind as they made their way past
the main hall and to the corridor that led to the undercroft. Delilah grumbled
under her breath the whole way.

"Are
you going to be like this the whole night?"

"Yes."

Adjusting
his hat, Kale turned into the hallway. He was surprised there weren't guards
posted at the undercroft doors. "Ophayra!" Delilah lit the skull atop
her staff.

The
undercroft itself appeared untouched since their last visit.

"I'm
supposed to meet her by the door to the catacombs." Kale led his sister
through the undercroft to the door. The body of the zombie Delilah destroyed
was gone, but the scorch mark where the corpse burned still marred the floor.
He tried the door handle. It was locked.

"See?
She probably just wants you to let her in so she can rob the place."
Delilah leaned against one of the arches and picked at one of the fetishes on
her harness. Kale knelt down by the door and opened his tool pouch. The lock
was rudimentary, designed to keep the casual wanderer at bay but was no match
for someone who actually knew how to pick locks.

With a
click, the locking mechanism disengaged, and Kale opened the door. He packed up
his tools and noticed that the pile of bodies he assumed were on the other side
were nowhere to be seen.
I guess Deli really wiped them out
. The stench
of burned flesh lingered in the air and mingled with the musty odor.

"I was
wondering when you'd show up." Kali stepped out of the shadows. She was
wearing the same dark cloak as when Kale saw her in the shop. She raised her
brow and clicked her teeth when she saw Delilah. "Backup, or a
chaperone?"

"Protection."
Delilah leveled her staff at Kali. "From you."

Laughing,
Kali pushed the staff up and away from her. "You think so little of me.
Three of us will make this easier. Come on." She motioned for them to
follow her into the catacombs.

Kale pulled
the door shut behind them. "Where are we going?"

"Yeah,
and why?" Delilah took her brother's arm and pulled him to a stop.
"What do you need Kale for?"

Kali turned
around. She spread her hands and smiled. "It's very simple. You're new in
town. You have stripes. Obviously, you have talents the average working drak
around here doesn't have."