One Realm Beyond (31 page)
“Feymare?” Totobee-Rodolow cocked an eyebrow.
Bridger offered no answer but looked straight into his sister’s eyes.
“Oh.” A slow smile lifted her countenance. “That shall be most enlightening.” She turned to the others. “Well, that is tomorrow and tonight we can do nothing. So let’s eat and enjoy with light hearts. Tomorrow we may be required to be all too serious.”
Conicaty Bridge crossed the Alletain River, which ran through the city. At this point, a lovely park with elaborate landscaping banked one side of the river. Mansions belonging to the well-to-do stood on the opposite side.
The bridge was designed to accommodate walkers. Small carts could cross, but were discouraged from doing so. Bixby found the views enchanting. Topiary animals populated one
large area of the park, a maze of hedges blocked out another patch, and a cluster of statues dotted a large, neatly groomed meadow with a three-tiered fountain at the center.
Walking paths meandered in and out of all the garden exhibits. Attractive slatted benches provided patrons a place to stop and relieve their feet, or relieve their tension by just taking in the beauty of their surroundings. And in the trees, brightly feathered birds hopped from branch to branch and sang sweet songs.
Bridger and Cantor strode side by side down the groomed trail. Totobee-Rodolow strolled beside Bixby, who longed to skip and twirl as they followed. She restrained herself for the sake of decorum and also because Cantor’s shoulders were tense. She could tell he wasn’t up to boisterous behavior. He’d been to the recorder’s office that morning and found out absolutely nothing about Ahma and Odem. She could sympathize. If her parents were missing, she’d be out of sorts, too.
Each time they came to an intersecting of paths, they followed the arrows on the quaint wooden signs. When the bridge came in sight, even from that distance, Bixby saw the man Totobee-Rodolow had pointed out as special in the restaurant. She wondered why all the people in the garden park did not stop and stare. He was obviously much more than a mere man.
“It’s because they don’t see who he truly is, darling.” Totobee-Rodolow spoke aloud, interrupting her thoughts. “If they notice him at all, they merely think he’s a somewhat attractive man.”
“Does he wear an obscuring circlet?”
“No, he needs no artifice to manage illusion.”
He turned and waved, then started toward them. Stopping at a bench, he spoke to a man and pointed in their direction. When this man unfolded his long body, Bixby recognized him.
“Dukmee! Look, Bridger, Cantor. It’s Dukmee.”
Dukmee wore his long, black healer’s cloak. His hair was longer, looking like a black bush tussling with the wind. And he was so pale. Bixby wondered if he was sick or just didn’t go out in the sun enough. A healer shouldn’t be sick.
Cantor turned and walked backward as he addressed Bixby. “Did you bring the hamper filled with his things? Perhaps he can take them now.”
She patted the right side of her skirt. “It’s under the second lace overlay, which is under a long silk sheath.” She turned to Totobee-Rodolow. “The bulky lace fits under the sheath because the sheath has splits in the seams to allow a peek at what’s underneath. I’ve got on three more outfits, three of my favorites.”
She noticed the look on Cantor’s face. He tolerated her crazy fashion fascination. Her manner of dress gave him ample opportunities to tease. He looked more animated now than he had since he left for the recorder’s office. She expected some smart comment, but he turned back around without another word.
As they met, a clamor of voices rose from the group. One of the many park patrolmen came by and asked them to move to the side of the path because they were blocking traffic. A picnic area with tables offered some solitude and enough seats for all.
When they’d settled, Totobee-Rodolow introduced the problem of Ahma and Odem first.
Feymare listened attentively. When she’d finished, he turned to Cantor. “I’ve met Ahma, of course. But I’ve had more to do with Odem. I hadn’t heard that they were missing, but someone in our legion will have heard something. My first order of business will be to initiate an inquiry to get answers and send someone specifically to find them.”
“Thank you.” Cantor gave a slight bow as to one in authority.
Bixby studied Cantor’s tense expression and wondered if he felt any relief. Did he doubt Feymare had the ability to actually get something accomplished? It was true that they didn’t know Feymare — but Totobee-Rodolow and Bridger certainly seemed to trust him. Yet Cantor seemed to be too filled with dread to accept that there was now hope. A thought came to mind that made her tremble. Chomountain had been lost for eons. The Primen warriors had never found him.
“Now I have an assignment for you.” Feymare nodded toward the healer. “Dukmee has told me about the situation in Effram. I want you to report the details to the recording office, but first I want you to drop the same information into the lap of a journalist.”
Totobee-Rodolow took a short intake of air. “Simon Toolooknaut of the
Daily Journal
.”
“Exactly.” Feymare smiled. “Another friend of yours, I believe.”
Totobee-Rodolow smiled and nodded. “It will be good to see him again.”
Feymare looked Bixby in the eye, then Cantor, and last Bridger. “I want you three to begin your rounds at the realm walker training center. However, you’ll need to keep your eyes and ears open. Only three councilmen have resisted the corruption. Three out of ninety-nine. Learn what you can, both in your rounds and by being observant. I’ll come back for you.”
“When?” asked Bridger.
Feymare shrugged his shoulders. “In a week perhaps, or possibly three months. Don’t lose heart. I’ll return.” He clapped his hand on Cantor’s shoulder. “My first priority is Ahma and Odem. I’ll get word to you.”
B
ixby stopped abruptly in the crowded street. “I forgot to give Dukmee his hampers.”
Totobee-Rodolow took hold of her arm and tugged her forward. “Don’t worry, darling. We shall see him again soon. Probably he’ll be with Bridger and Cantor when we meet for dinner.”
Bixby allowed herself to be pulled along by the dragon. Again, Totobee-Rodolow’s pace was too quick for her to keep up, so she conveniently floated.
The dragon made odd choices in choosing which way to go. Each street seemed more off the beaten path than the last. “Did we take a wrong turn, Totobee-Rodolow?”
“Have faith, darling. I know just where we’re going.”
After a dozen more turns and twenty minutes of walking, the streets looked more squalid and the buildings more derelict than anything Bixby had seen in Gilead so far. The
occupants stepped back to let Totobee-Rodolow and Bixby pass. But they stared, and Bixby grew nervous. “This neighborhood gives me skin shivers.”
“Be patient, darling. We’re almost there.”
Totobee-Rodolow stopped at the opening of an alley. The buildings stood so close together, even in the daytime, darkness shrouded the narrow way.
“Oh no!” Bixby’s feet slammed down on the pavement and she dug in her heels. “We can’t be going in there.”
“But this is where the man is that we want to see.”
“If this is where he lives, maybe he’s not the kind of man we should want to see.”
“Oh, now what could be the problem, little one?”
“It’s dark and there are puddles, dirty puddles, and thugs could be behind those boxes, ready to jump out at us. And it stinks.”
“Darling, reach in your hamper and bring out a crown that will make you more comfortable.”
Bixby grabbed her tiara hamper from the folds of her skirt.
“When you have on the proper head embellishment, you’ll feel more confident. Then you need only remember to smile, and we shall lighten up this unfortunate corner of the world.”
Bixby held up a twist of bronze flowers. “Maybe this one?”
“What does that one do, dear?”
“Heightens my hearing.”
Totobee-Rodolow looked thoughtfully down the alley. “No, I really don’t think that’s necessary.”
“This one? It gives me the ability to read the aura around a person so he or she can’t hide his feelings from me. I’d know if someone was feeling hostile and edgy.”
“Edgy?”
“Ready to attack.”
“No, no, not quite right for this situation.” Totobee-Rodolow studied her for a moment. “Do you have one that gives you courage?”
Bixby’s shoulders slumped. “I always thought I had an adequate amount of courage.”
“Of course, darling. I’ve noticed you generally tackle a situation with no qualms. What do you think the problem is here?”
“I’m not dressed for an unexpected event.” She passed her hands over the lovely dress she wore over lace and hand-tatted skirts. “I wasn’t expecting puddles.”
“Well, now, we can fix that. I understand perfectly that it is easier to face a difficult situation when you know you’re properly attired. It’s a shame you aren’t a shape-shifter, but you’re well enough equipped. I shall become a little larger to block the view from the street, and I’ll put a wing over you for a little added privacy. You rearrange your clothing to better suit our purpose.”
Bixby stepped into the alley entrance as the mor dragon increased in size. “Oh, thank you, Totobee-Rodolow. It’s so good to have a constant who understands.”
Bixby noticed that her dragon friend didn’t say she was only a temporary constant. She busied herself getting ready.
“I’m ready to shield you.” Totobee-Rodolow extended her right wing.
Bixby began peeling off the layers. Her clothing used many ties and belts and other accoutrements to add to her style, so unfastening and shedding the superfluous doodads took a minute. She pulled out a hamper to store things as she undressed and dressed again. Some skirts and blouses she
immediately tucked away in the hamper. Others she draped over the dragon’s right knee, which was handy. When she got down to her thermea, she began dressing again, taking care to put the lighter clothing beneath and the darker bits and sturdier pieces on the outside. She tested her range of motion so that if trouble erupted, she would have ample ability to be swift and unrestrained.
She tucked the last two stray garments into the hamper and secured the bag under the first layer. “I’m done.”
Totobee-Rodolow’s wing moved, and she peeked under. “Are you feeling more confident, darling? You look exquisite as always.”
Bixby curtseyed. “I feel much more prepared.”
“And what tiara did you choose?”
“Discerning.”
“Good job. Anything else we need to take care of?”
Bixby narrowed her eyes as she thought about problems that might arise from this visit. “Should I have weapons at the ready?”
“Darling, one should
always
have weapons at hand.” She patted Bixby’s shoulder. “But sometimes a sharp tongue parries an evil intent. A witty retort may stymie an enemy. And best of all, a kind and generous reply can take the wind out of the sails of a foe.”
Bixby had been rearranging the placement of her small sword, knife, slingshot, and the little tube she used to blow darts as Totobee-Rodolow spoke. She twitched her clothing into order and smiled. “Ready again.”
“Then off we go.”
Totobee-Rodolow took the lead, and Bixby trailed behind, keeping her eyes open. She floated over puddles to keep her
feet dry and took extra caution when passing anything that might be used as cover for an ambush.
At the back of the alley, just before the dirty lane turned a corner, the dragon stopped before a gray door adorned with scribbling. She leaned closer and listened. Then she used a hard knuckle to tap loudly on the door. The rhythm seemed elaborate to Bixby. When Totobee-Rodolow repeated it, she realized it must be a code.
“An old code
,
darling,”
Totobee-Rodolow reassured her.
“I’m sure they’ve had a score or more since I last used one. But old Simon Toolooknaut will recognize me.”
The door protested with scraping of metal against metal and a screech of stiff hinges. A small, nervous man poked his head out, swiveled his neck around to survey the alley, then waved Totobee-Rodolow and Bixby to enter. The door repeated its complaints as it shut. The man bolted and locked it. He wrung his hands and muttered before he gestured for the guests to follow.