The Bone Doll's Twin (30 page)

Brother stood there, glaring back at him.

Tobin gripped the older boy’s shoulder, trying to keep him from crying out. “Don’t be scared, Ki, he won’t—”

Ki turned to him with a shaky little laugh. “Bilairy’s balls, it’s only you! For a minute I thought it was that ghost of yours crawling into the bed. You’re cold enough to be one.”

Tobin glanced at Brother, then back at Ki. He couldn’t see Brother standing there hating him. He didn’t have the eye.

Even so, Ki looked as scared as if he had as he asked, “Can I tell you something, Prince Tobin?” Tobin nodded.

Ki fiddled with the edge of the quilt. “When old Iya told me about the ghost, I almost ran for home, even though I knew my father’d beat me and put me on the road. I almost did. And then, when the ghost started throwing things around downstairs tonight? I nearly pissed myself I was so scared. But you just stood there, like it didn’t even matter….” He hugged his arms around his drawn-up knees. “I guess what I’m trying to say is that my father didn’t raise any cowards. I’m not feared of anything, except ghosts, and I can stand that to serve someone as brave as you. If you’ll still have me.”

He thinks I’m going to send him away.
In that instant of recognition, Tobin nearly blurted it all out, about Brother and the doll and his mother and the wet nightshirt in a heap by the door. But the worshipful look in the older boy’s eyes sealed the words behind his teeth.

Instead, he just shrugged and said, “Everyone’s afraid of him, even Arkoniel. I’m used to him, that’s all.” He wanted to promise Ki that Brother wouldn’t hurt him again, but he wasn’t sure of that yet and didn’t want to lie.

Ki got up on his knees and touched his forehead and heart in the soldier’s salute. “Well, I still say you’re brave, and if you’ll accept my service, then I swear by Sakor and Illior that I’m your man until death.”

“I accept,” Tobin replied, feeling silly and proud at the same time. Ki had no sword to offer him, so they clasped hands on it and he flopped back down beside Tobin and burrowed under the covers.

Young as he was, Tobin understood that something important had passed between them. Until death, Ki had said. This conjured images of them riding side by side under his father’s banner on some distant battlefield.

So long as the doll stayed hidden. So long as no one ever found out what was up there in the tower.

Mama is up there, locked in the tower.

The night’s horror closed in around him again and he turned his back against Ki’s, glad not to be alone. He would never go there again. She was there, waiting to catch him. But the tower was locked and Brother wouldn’t let anyone else in.

Brother had warned him and his secret was safe. Now he would never see Ki looking at him with the face Brother had shown him in the vision.

“Tobin?” A sleepy mumble.

“What?”

“You say that ghost of yours is a he?”

“Yes. I call him Brother.”

“Huh…. I’d heard tell it was a girl.”

“Huh.”

Ki’s soft snore lulled Tobin to sleep, and he dreamed of riding east with Ki to find Ero and the sea.

A
fter the household had settled for the night, Arkoniel took Iya outside to walk in the meadow, just as he and Rhius had two months before. There had been bats and fireflies that night, and the song of frogs.

Tonight the meadow and forest were silent except for the hunting cries of owls in the moonlight. It was very cold, and the wizards’ shadows fell sharp-edged across frost-coated grass as they followed one of the paths the workers had worn along the riverbank. The forest and peaks glimmered white around them. In the distance, a few fires still glowed in front of the handful of tents left at the bottom of the meadow. Most of the workmen had finished their tasks. The rest would soon be gone, as well, anxious to return to the city before the snow fell.

Arkoniel’s encounter with Lhel earlier in the day weighed heavily on his mind. As they walked he tried to find the proper words to explain what had happened.

“What do you think of your new occupation?” she asked before he could broach the subject.

“I don’t think I’m much of a teacher. Tobin cares nothing for learning or me, as far as I can tell. It’s all warcraft and hunting with him. All he talks of is being a warrior.” Even alone here they were careful to refer to Tobin as “he” and “him.”

“So you dislike him?”

“Not in the least!” Arkoniel exclaimed. “He’s intelligent, and a wonderful artist. You should see the little figures he makes. I think we’re the happiest together when we’re watching the craftsmen and builders.”

Iya chuckled. “Then it’s not ‘all warcraft and hunting’ after all? A clever teacher would find a way to make use of such interests. There’s a great deal of mathematics in building a sound arch or planning a mural. The compounding of colors is practically alchemy. And to create the shapes of living things, one ought to have a sound knowledge of them.”

Arkoniel raised his hands in surrender. “Yes, I see I’ve been a complete mole. I’ll try to make a fresh start with him.”

“Don’t judge yourself too harshly, my boy. This isn’t a young wizard you’re training, after all, but a noble. Even as ruler, Tobin will never need the sort of education that we do. Half the Palatine can’t write much more than their names. I must say I admire Rhius’ stand on the matter; you still hear a good many fine lords and ladies calling it scribe’s work. Teach them all to read for themselves and you’ll put half the well-bred merchants’ daughters out of an occupation. No, you keep on with that, and give him what you can of the disciplines he might find useful later on. Geography and history—you’re well versed in those. He should learn something of music, and dancing, too, before he’s summoned to court—”

“Have you heard something? Do you think he will be summoned soon?”

“No, but it must come eventually, unless Rhius is willing to paint him as an utter idiot to the king. And that will make our task a great deal more difficult when the moment arrives. No, I think we must assume that it will be necessary in the due course of time. He’s just turning ten now. I’d say three years is the best we can hope for—perhaps less, being Royal Kin.” She paused, frowning. “I pray he has time to grow up to his role before he has to step into it. There’s no way of knowing.”

Arkoniel shook his head. “He’s so young, so—” He groped for the word. “Unworldly. It’s difficult to imagine the fate that weighs on those narrow little shoulders.”

“Take what the Lightbearer sends,” Iya replied. “Whatever happens, we must make the best of what we are given to work with. For now, your task is to keep him safe and happy. You’ll be my eyes here from now on. And if anything—untoward should happen with Ki … Perhaps you shouldn’t allow yourself to get too attached.”

“I know. Rhius made that a condition. It makes poor Ki sound like the pet lamb being fattened for the Solstice feast.”

“He is here at your insistence, Arkoniel. Don’t ever let that gentle heart of yours blind you to the reality of our situation.”

“I’ve felt the god’s touch, Iya. I never forget that.”

She patted his arm. “I know. Now tell me more of Tobin.”

“I’m concerned about his fear of magic.”

“He fears you?”

“Not me, exactly, but—Well, he takes the oddest turns! When I first arrived, for instance, I tried to entertain him with a few pretty spells. You know, the sort of illusions that we’d do to amuse the children of any host?”

“And he was not amused?”

“You’d think I’d cut off my head and thrown it at him! The one time I did manage to please him with a vision of Ero, the demon nearly tore the room down. I haven’t dared try anything more with him since.”

Iya raised an eyebrow. “He must be cured of this if we are to realize our goal. Perhaps Ki can be of some help to you there. He liked the little tricks and illusions I showed him as we traveled.” She smiled up at him. “You haven’t yet said what you think of my choice.”

“Judging by what I saw tonight, you chose very well. I was watching him when the demon attacked. He was terrified, but still went to Tobin instead of running away. He already understands his duty, without even knowing his lord.”

“Rather exceptional for one so young. Now, as for the demon, was that unusual, what happened?”

“Not really, though it was more severe than anything I’ve seen since my arrival. I got something of the same kind of reception when I first arrived. It said it remembered me, so it must have known you, as well. That doesn’t explain its attack on Ki, though. Has he any magic in him?”

“No, and it’s a shame, for he might make an interesting wizard. He should do very nicely for Tobin. Now that I’ve seen the child, I must admit you were correct. He desperately needs some semblance of normal society.” Iya turned back toward the keep and a frown creased her brow. “I only hope Ki influences him, rather than the other way around. I expected better of Rhius.”

“I gather it’s been difficult for him, with the demon and Ariani’s madness. None of us foresaw that.”

“Illior brings madness, as well as insight.” In the cold, pale light, Iya suddenly looked like a statue made of iron. The image struck Arkoniel through with sadness. For the first time since he’d known her, he admitted to himself how hard she could be, how removed from the common flow of humanity. He’d seen this in other wizards, a detachment from what seemed to him normal feeling. It came of living so long, she’d once told him, but he’d tried hard to not see it in her.

Then she turned to him with a sad smile and the dark fancy retreated. She was again his patient teacher, the woman he loved as a second mother.

“Did you see anything when the demon was present?” he asked.

“No, but I felt it. It does remember me and it does not forgive. But I gathered from your letter that you saw it?”

“Only once, but as clearly as I see you now. The day I arrived here it was waiting for me down there where the road comes out of the trees. It looked exactly like Tobin, except for the eyes—”

“You’re wrong there.” Iya plucked a stalk of dead
grass and twirled it between her fingers. “It doesn’t look like Tobin. Tobin looks like it, or at least as the dead boy would have looked, had he lived. That was the purpose of Lhel’s magic, after all, to give the girl child the semblance of her brother. Illior only knows what Tobin actually looks like.” She paused, tapping the dry stalk against her chin. “I wonder what name he will choose, after the change?”

The thought was somewhat disorienting, but it also jarred him back to what he’d come out here for in the first place.

“I saw Lhel today. From what I could gather, I’d say she’s been here all along.”

“The witch is here? By the Light, why didn’t Nari or Rhius say something?”

“They don’t know. No one does. I don’t know how, Iya, but it seems she followed the child here and lives somewhere nearby.”

“I see.” Iya gazed around at the forest that hemmed in the keep. “Did she say why?”

Arkoniel hesitated, then slowly explained what had happened between the two of them. When he reached the point where Lhel had overpowered him, however, he faltered to a halt. The temptation had been so great; just thinking of it now stirred the dark, thrilling guilt in him. It had been Lhel who had stopped short of coupling, not he.

“She—she wanted me to break celibacy, in return for learning what she had to teach. And as payment for watching over Tobin.”

“I see.” Arkoniel caught another glimpse of iron in her. “Is it your impression that she will abandon the child if you don’t comply with her demand?”

“No, she must make amends to her own gods somehow for creating the demon. I don’t think she could go against that. Short of killing her, I doubt we could force her away.”

“Nor should we.” Iya stared at the river, lost in thought.
“I’ve never told anyone this before,” she said softly, “but my own master studied the Old Magic. It’s more powerful than you know.”

“But it’s forbidden!”

Iya snorted. “So is what we are attempting, dear boy. And why do you suppose I sought her out in the first place? Perhaps it’s the fate of the wizards of our line to do what is forbidden when necessary. Perhaps it is what Illior intends for you.”

“You mean I
should
learn from her?”

“I believe I can undo the magics she wove on Tobin. But what if I’m wrong? What if I die before the time comes, as Agazhar did with me? Yes, it might be best if you learn from her what must be done, and in her way.”

“But her price?” Arkoniel’s chest tightened at the thought. He tried to believe it was purely revulsion.

Iya’s lips pressed into a thin line of disapproval. “Offer her something else.”

“What if she refuses?”

“Arkoniel, I taught you what my master taught me; that celibacy preserves our power. I have practiced it since I undertook the craft. There are those who stray, however, and not all of them have been weakened by the experience. Many, but not all….”

Arkoniel felt as if the earth were opening up under his feet. “Why didn’t you ever tell me this before?”

“Why would I? As a child you didn’t need to know. And as a young man in your prime? It was too dangerous, the temptation too real. I was nearly as old as you are now when I began my training, and no virgin. The tides of the flesh are strong, make no mistake, and we all feel their pull. Once a wizard gets past the first life and feels his power strong in him, it becomes easier to bear. The carnal pleasures pale in comparison, I promise you.”

“I
will
refuse her, Iya.”

“You will do what you will do, dear boy.” Iya took his
hands between her own and looked into his face; her skin was cold as ivory. “There’s so much more I’d hoped to teach you. Before Afra I imagined that we had the rest of my life together. You are my successor, Arkoniel, and the finest student I’ve ever had. We’ve known that for some time, Illior and I.” She patted the bag hanging over her shoulder. “But Illior has other plans for you just now, as we’ve both seen. For the time being you must take what lessons you can find and make of them what you can. If Lhel can teach you, then learn from her. Barring all else, you must keep watch and learn if she has any ill intent toward the child.”