Bewitched & Betrayed

Chapter 9

“That does nothing to disprove that Tamnais Nathrach kidnapped General Aratus,” Carnades said. “If Sarad Nukpana is regenerating as you say, he would need an accomplice; and who better than a goblin dark mage and an elven traitor? Mistress Benares has been inside the Saghred on two occasions and has spoken with Sarad Nukpana.” He looked to me and his eyes narrowed in cold, reptilian fury. “Don’t think I have forgotten that he referred to you as a partner.”

“Yeah, it still gives me the creeps, too.”

Mychael turned away from Carnades, dismissing him entirely. “Sedge, I want to see the statements of all witnesses who said they saw Tamnais Nathrach abduct the general.”

“You won’t have to go far for two of them; they’re right over there,” I said, indicating a pair of elves who clearly wished that they were elsewhere right now.

“They just finished giving their statements,” Sedge told us. “There were four others who have come over the course of the afternoon.”

Six lying witnesses. Carnades had been busy. He wasn’t taking any chances that Tam was going to get away.

“I want copies of their statements, and their addresses sent to my office within the hour,” Mychael said. “I’ll be conducting my own investigation—beginning with interviewing the witnesses.”

Carnades sneered. “So you think our chief watcher is incapable of properly—”

“Chief Watcher Rinker is more than capable in every capacity of his job.” Mychael’s voice was level and professional—and cold enough to give Carnades frostbite. “The continued safety of the Conclave’s mages is my responsibility. And I will do everything in my power to bring those responsible to justice.” He paused meaningfully. “And that includes any false witnesses. If Tamnais Nathach has been falsely accused with malicious intent, I will see those responsible prosecuted to the full extent of the law. Valuable hours have been lost here tonight, hours that may have cost the life of another citizen of this island—a life I was sworn to protect.”

Carnades was livid with outrage. “You will not roust our good citizens out of their beds in the middle of the night.”

“Watch me. And speaking of the middle of the night, Sarad Nukpana is out there. I can’t allow you out in the streets alone.”

“I have two bodyguards who—”

“Insufficient,” Mychael told him. “You are the senior mage on the Seat of Twelve and it is my duty to see you safely home.”

Taltek Balmorlan stepped forward. “It is not Magus Silvanus’s intention to go home yet, nor is it mine.”

“Then my men will escort the two of you wherever you need to go, and then see you both safely home.”

If Carnades or Balmorlan wanted to report back to Markus, Mychael had just thrown a big crimp in their plans. His Guardians would report every stop they made to their commander. Another flash of brilliance on Mychael’s part. Best of all, he was just doing his job.

I had a sudden feeling of cold dread. I hadn’t heard Talon come up behind me—the kid was too light on his feet for that—but he was there. And Carnades and Balmorlan were still there.

Taltek Balmorlan looked like he’d just been handed a present with his name on it. Carnades looked like he’d just seen one of those ghosts that he didn’t believe in.

I sighed. “Talon, you were supposed to stay put.”

“You know I only do as told if there’s something in it for me.” His voice slipped smoothly into a lower register and his magic flowed around us all, warm and silvery. I don’t think he was aware that he was doing it.

Balmorlan was aware and delighted.

Damn.

“Young Master Nathrach.” The elven inquisitor’s lips curved into a jackal’s smile. “I have seen you perform at Sirens on more than one occasion. You have a most impressive talent.”

“Let me guess,” Talon shot back smoothly. “You’re the type who enjoyed my dancing much more than my singing.”

A few watchers did a fine job covering their snorts or guffaws with spontaneous coughing fits. Vegard sounded like he’d swallowed a bug.

Taltek Balmorlan’s look was murder.

Talon flashed him a dazzling smile, but his aquamarine eyes were pale fire. He knew exactly who and what he was playing with, and he was doing it anyway, cheerfully even. These were the bastards who had put his father in a cell, and the kid was out here to show them that Nathrach men didn’t intimidate and they sure as hell didn’t hide in conference rooms.

Vidor Kalta leaned toward the elven inquisitor. “The boy has your number, Taltek,” he murmured, laughter running under his words. “I’ve always said you need to find another hobby.”

Carnades hadn’t found any words. His stare was fixed on Talon’s pale eyes; eyes only a shade darker than Carnades’s own. “Abomination,” he whispered hoarsely, whether to himself or Talon, I didn’t know.

“Your mother was a pure-blooded high elf,” Vidor Kalta said gently to Talon. “And was no doubt very beautiful.” His black eyes were daggers on Carnades. “And his father is a good, noble, and innocent man.” He looked back at Talon. “You should be proud of them both.”

“Yes, sir. I am.” The kid’s voice was steady as a rock.

Vidor Kalta might be creepy, but I liked him.

Mychael moved smoothly between Talon and Carnades, forcing the elf to break eye contact with the young goblin. “My men are ready to escort you to your next destination.” Mychael’s words were polite; his voice said that both Carnades and Balmorlan were leaving. Now.

They left with Carnades’s two bodyguards in tow, and through the windows, I saw a whole bunch of mounted Guardians who looked only too glad to escort all of them around town. Carnades’s mage cronies dispersed. I guess it was no fun being on the losing side. They’d go home and lick their wounds; Carnades and Balmorlan were no doubt hatching another plan before they were in their coach.

I wanted to run directly to Tam’s cell, but knew that wouldn’t look good for either of us.

I draped an arm over Talon’s shoulders. I knew I’d probably get groped for my trouble, but a show of guts like that shouldn’t go unrewarded.

“Phaelan has a saying for what you just did,” I told him.

“Yeah?”

“Yeah. He’d tell you not to trip over those things.”

“What things?”

“Your balls that are dragging on the ground.”

Talon’s grin was slow and lascivious. “Not literally, but they are impressive. Would you like to see?”

“I’ll pass, kid. It’s a thrill I’ll have to live without.”

“Anytime you want the thrill, just let me know.”

Mychael appeared at my side. “Talon, why don’t you go see your father.” He glanced over my shoulder. “Sedge?”

“I’ll lower the sound barrier on the ward so they can talk.”

“Thank you,” I told him.

The chief watcher sighed. “I really didn’t want to do this, Raine.”

“I know. We all have our jobs to do.”

“And sometimes they suck.”

“That they do.”

While Talon was reunited with Tam, I stepped up to Vidor Kalta.

“Well played,” I murmured. “You didn’t hear Nukpana say one word in that examination room.”

Kalta’s response was a brief upward twitch of his thin lips.

“And you knew exactly what he was going to do,” I said to Mychael in mindspeak.

“And approved.”

“The paladin and I—how do you say—got our story straight before we came in.” Kalta spoke while barely moving his lips, and his words didn’t carry past my ears. Nifty trick. “It simplifies so much. My conscience is quite clear. I merely countered one fabrication with another. Carnades cannot prove his claim; and he knows that I cannot prove mine.” His eyes were the flat black of a shark’s. “I know what is at stake if Sarad Nukpana succeeds. I will do whatever is necessary to prevent that from happening. And to prevent more innocent people from being infested by those who escaped with him.”

I glanced over my shoulder. It looked like Tam was giving his son a serious talking-to, and for once it looked like Talon might actually be listening. I wasn’t about to interrupt that. Besides, there was a question I wanted an answer to. That answer was probably going to creep me the hell out, but I wanted to know.

“Uh, Nachtmagus Kalta—”

“Vidor, please.”

“Okay.” I drew that word out. “Vidor. May I ask you a probably tasteless and possibly offensive question?”

His lips curled in a knowing smile. “About my calling?”

“That would be the topic.”

“Miss Benares, I have never been offended by sharing knowledge with those who sincerely want to know.” He paused meaningfully. “Nor by having the opportunity to dispel an unfortunate misconception.”

Just ask it, Raine. “Do you resurrect the dead?”

“No, I do not,” he replied simply. “However, there have been instances when I have prevented a soul from leaving its body.”

“But they were dead.”

“Their bodies, yes. But as long as the soul remains, true death is a technicality.” He gave me a quizzical glance. “You seem surprised that I do not resurrect the dead.”

“I thought that was what a nachtmagus did.”

“Once the soul leaves the body, it may linger for as long as a day, but usually it is only for a few minutes. After that the soul moves on. Attempting to summon a soul back to its original body is dangerous for precisely the same reasons you have experienced during the past few weeks.”

I had an unwanted image of Banan Ryce and Alastair Kratos. “Bad souls looking for any body they can get.”

“Precisely. There is no guarantee that the soul you summon will be the soul you want. And once that spirit takes possession of the body, what you have is no more than an animated corpse, a tool and nothing more for the spirit infesting it. And make no mistake, it is an infestation—and to any moral nachtmagus, it is abhorrent.” His black eyes sparkled. “Does that answer your question?”

“And then some.” I glanced down at my boots and then up at Vidor. “Thank you for what you did for us.”

“I was more than glad to be of assistance, Miss Benares.”

“Call me Raine.”

He looked genuinely pleased, almost happy at that. “Raine.”

I let out a wry chuckle and shook my head. “You made Carnades admit in front of a roomful of people that not only did you not lie, but that he was wrong. He’s not going to let either one of those go.”

“I would be stunned into insensibility if he did. Unlike Carnades, I trust the word of others. If you and the paladin say you heard it, you did. If Carnades doesn’t hear, see, or feel it himself, he believes it simply does not exist. The man has no intellectual curiosity whatsoever. Most unfortunate. I know Tamnais Nathrach from the goblin court, Raine. He was not responsible for this, and I will not stand by and watch while Carnades’s pigheadedness imprisons the innocent while the guilty go free and continue to kill. And as to the possibility of you and Paladin Eiliesor sharing some sort of bond, I believe that what is between two consenting adults should stay there.”

I said nothing, but inclined my head in gratitude.

His lips twitched again. “And I would never pass up an opportunity to antagonize Carnades, as I have since we were boys.”

“You two knew each other as kids?” I whistled. “I hope your parents hid the knives. He hates your guts.”

“Then that would make our relationship unchanged since childhood.”

Mychael glanced over at the cells. “Vidor, will you stay here overnight with Tam?”

“Of course.”

I looked from one of them to the other. “You expect Sarad Nukpana to come after him?”

Mychael shook his head. “That would be too risky. There are Sedge’s watchers and wards to contend with, and I will be posting a few Guardians here as well. They’re trained to recognize and counteract spirit activity of any kind.”

“Won’t someone tell Carnades that you have Guardians protecting Tam?”

Mychael held up a finger. “Guarding Tam. And if they want to tell Carnades, they are more than welcome to. Carnades claims that Tam is the most dangerous man on the island. My men routinely supplement Sedge’s watchers whenever we have a high-risk prisoner.”

“Your boys are just doing their job,” I said. “And protecting Tam.” I hesitated. “Is it safe for me to speak to him?”

Mychael knew what I meant. Would having lowered the sound barriers on the ward covering Tam’s cell reveal our bond if we got too close? There were still plenty of watchers in the squad room. On an island full of mages, watchers who could sling spells of their own went a long way toward keeping the peace. Some of them probably had enough on the ball to recognize the umi’atsu bond between me, Mychael, and Tam.

“It won’t be a problem,” Mychael assured me. “Tam will be able to hear us, and we can hear him—just sound, no magic spillover.”

I took a breath and blew it out. More than enough had gone wrong tonight; a change would be nice.

With the sound barrier down, the wards on Tam’s cell glowed orange instead of red. It wasn’t a warm, welcoming glow; it was an angry “one step closer and I’ll toss you across the room” kind of glow. Mychael and I stopped about two feet from the cell.

“Entertaining exchange,” Tam drawled. “That’s one thing I can always depend on from Carnades—he’s never boring.”

I blinked. “How did you—”

“Lipreading. A useful trick I picked up at court. I got most of what was said. By the way, thank Vidor Kalta for me.”

“You can thank him yourself,” Mychael said. “He’ll be staying with you for the rest of the night. If all goes as planned, you’ll be out of here by tomorrow morning.”

Talon froze. “Do you think he needs protection?”

“No. But I’m not taking any chances. A few of my men are specially trained to deal with specters.” He paused. “And Kontar and Garai are on their way here.”

I recognized the names. They were goblin dark mages. Tam called them friends and colleagues; our family would have called them high- priced, out-of-town talent. They were powerful, and dirty was the only way they knew how to fight.

Tam snorted, a short of laugh. “Only two?”

“Unfortunately, those are the rules.”

Talon’s eyes flashed in fury. “What rules? Why can’t they all be in here?”

“Two personal guards qualify as protection,” Tam explained. “Any more than that is a jailbreak waiting to happen.”

“What’s wrong with that?”

“A jailbreak means Tam would be a fugitive,” Mychael told Talon. “A confession from Sarad Nukpana’s accomplice makes Tam a free man.”

“You’ve got him in custody?” I asked.

“I plan to by morning. And if Sarad Nukpana strikes somewhere in the city again tonight—”

Tam indicated the bars of his cell with a rueful smile. “I’ll have a literally ironclad alibi.” He shrugged a shoulder. “I’ve certainly spent the night in worse accommodations.” All signs of humor vanished. “Mychael, take care of Talon for me.”

“I’m staying right here,” Talon told us all.

“Talon, I—” Tam began.

“What if they come back?” he shot back vehemently.

I knew who he was talking about. Carnades and Balmorlan.

“They won’t,” Mychael assured him. “You’re staying with Piaras for tonight.” He looked out into the courtyard, where five minutes ago Carnades’s coach had been. “I’ll be having you both stay in the archmagus’s apartments.”

Talon was incredulous. “I’m spending the night with an old man? Like a babysitter?”

I knew what Mychael was doing and thought it was a damned fine idea. Piaras and Talon had become close friends, and Justinius would obliterate anyone or anything that threatened either one of them.

“He’s an old man who’ll kick your ass at cards and drink you under the table,” I told Talon.

“I’ll pass on the ass kicking, but I could use a drink.”

“Talon, go over and stand with Vegard,” Tam said. “I need to talk to Mychael in private.”

The kid looked like he was about to give his dad some lip, but thought better of it and nodded tightly instead. What do you know? He did have some sense.

Tam slowly took a breath and let it out, waiting until Talon was out of earshot.

Then he told Mychael what Talon had done tonight and who had seen him do it. Mychael didn’t seem all that shocked. I guess as paladin, he’d seen his share of exotic magical talents.

“And Banan Ryce saw it all. He’s gone and gotten himself possessed by Alastair Kratos.”

I quickly told him about our encounter with Banan Ryce—the new, improved, and possessed Banan Ryce. Lure a specter, give him a body. In return, all they had to do was help with an assassination or two. Banan’s boys had missed Imala Kalis this time; next time they’d get it right. One of the nice things about a bond was that I could supplement my thoughts with images. Within a few seconds, Mychael knew exactly what had happened.

“And if Taltek Balmorlan’s paying Banan’s fee, he knows all about Talon—like the kid needs that kind of trouble now.”

“Mychael, I know we don’t always see eye to eye,” Tam admitted. “And Talon’s almost more than I can handle, but it would ease my mind if you would stand as fal’kasair for him. It’s what goblins call a godfather.”

“I know what it is.” Mychael’s jaw clenched. “Tam, you don’t need to do this—”

“Hopefully not, but it’s a chance I don’t want to take. It’s a little late to be giving Talon a fal’kasair. They’re usually chosen before a child is born, someone with enough political influence and magical power to protect them.” Tam paused uncomfortably. “Would you do this for me? In case this doesn’t turn out like we want.”

I just stood there. A fal’kasair also took over raising a child if the father died—or was executed.

“Nothing’s going to happen to you,” I told him.

“I don’t plan on anything happening to me, either.” Tam sighed. “Raine, it’s different when you have a child, especially one who would never admit that he depends on you. Talon’s gone through most of his life fending for himself.” Tam paused, his voice tight with emotion. “I never want him to go through that again.”

“And he won’t,” Mychael promised him. “I would be honored to be Talon’s fal’kasair.”

“Thank you.”

Mychael tried for a smile that didn’t quite make it. “You’d asked me when Talon first came here to try to reform him. Between me, Justinius, and Piaras—who knows? It might stick.”

Tam barked a tense laugh. “That’d take a miracle.” He looked at the bars crackling with wards. “Like one other thing I can name.”

Mychael smiled fully and his eyes gleamed. “Have faith.”

Tam snorted. “In what?”

“Greed.”

Mychael’s hand cupped my elbow and steered me toward the back of the squad room. “Talon, you’re with us,” Mychael said as we passed him and Vegard. “We’re not leaving through the front doors,” he told me quietly.

“Too many people?”

“That, too.”

“You know a lot of back-door exits in this town.”

He flashed a grin, but his eyes were alert. “It keeps me healthy.”

The door Mychael exited through put us in the courtyard of the city watch’s stables. Kalinpar was in the center of the courtyard, and there were a lot of nervous horses in their stalls. The insides of Mychael’s personal sentry dragon’s nostrils glowed with an orange uncomfortably similar to the wards on Tam’s cell. Except Kalinpar didn’t have wards up his nose; he had fire, and was easily twice the size of the largest horse I’d ever seen. I’d sat in the saddle strapped across his scaled back once before with Mychael behind me. That was a flight to the citadel that my stomach was in no hurry to repeat.

A Guardian stood by his side.

“I need you to take Talon Nathrach back to the citadel and escort him to the archmagus’s apartments,” Mychael told him. “And bring Piaras Rivalin up from the barracks. They’re staying with the archmagus tonight.”

The Guardian didn’t even blink at the request. I guess taking orders was what a soldier did best. That was why I’d never be a soldier.

Mychael stopped and spoke to Talon. “Your father is going to be fine, and I’ll personally see to it that he’s out of that cell by morning.”

“Do you promise?”

“Everything in my power.”

Talon considered for a few seconds. “Thank you.” His smile was crooked. “So the old man likes to play cards?”

“He likes to cheat even more,” I warned him. “And if you try to cheat him, he’ll turn you into a slug.” I grinned and clapped him on the shoulder. “Good luck, kid.”

Talon left the courtyard with a trio of armed Guardians behind him. I looked with trepidation at Kalinpar.

“Can’t we take horses back to the citadel?” I asked.

Mychael leaned down, his lips next to my ear. “We’re not going back to the citadel.”

I couldn’t believe my ears. I glanced up at Mychael’s eyes. Yep, still blue, no flicker of flame that signaled a specter in residence. “You don’t look it, but you haven’t gone and gotten yourself possessed, have you?”

His teeth flashed in the dim courtyard light. “I assure you I am quite myself.”

“You don’t want to lock me in my room in the citadel, so what am I supposed to think?”

He gazed down at me. “I’d like nothing better, but I don’t have that luxury tonight. I need your help.”

I was stunned. “You what?”

In response, Mychael took my hand and hurried into the stables.

What was waiting for us in that stall confused me more than Mychael needing my help. An elf who could have been Mychael’s twin brother stood before us, and standing next to him . . . Well, if I’d had a sister, this woman would have been it. The man was wearing a uniform identical to Mychael’s and the woman was in midnight blue leathers from head to toe. Just like mine.

What the hell?

Mychael swept off his massive gray cloak and handed it to the uniformed man. I looked over at Mychael and my mouth fell open. I let it hang there; I had better things to do, like determine why the paladin of the Conclave Guardians was dressed like someone you’d meet in a bad bar, dark alley, or darker highway just before he demanded that you “stand and deliver.”

Mychael wore dark, rough leather from head to toe: high boots, formfitting trousers—extremely formfitting—and a doublet with various slits that I recognized all too well. Hiding places for dozens of small, bladed weapons. Straps from a sword harness hugged his wide shoulders. Mychael out of uniform signaled a heavy frost in Hell; but what raised my eyebrows and left them there was that he looked perfectly comfortable, relaxed even. I closed my mouth, lowered my brows and made a conscious effort to keep them that way, and decided to just let the strangeness play itself out.

The man and woman didn’t speak, but the woman noted the way my blades were angled over my shoulders and adjusted her own sword harness to a perfect match.

Vegard shifted uneasily. “I don’t like this, sir.”

Mychael put on a broad-brimmed hat and pulled it low over his eyes. He handed me a dark cloak and I took it and put it on. “None of us do, but it’s necessary. Vegard, it’s critical that everyone, especially Carnades and Balmorlan, believes that Raine and I are in the citadel tonight. Escort our doubles to my apartments and post guards to see to it that no one gets in. When Sedge delivers those statements to my office, take them to Justinius, and then stay there. He knows what to do. Raine and I will see you in the morning.”

The big Guardian took a deep breath and blew it out in a stubborn puff of steam in the cold night air. I gave him the hug I’d wanted to earlier. To my surprise, he hugged me back. Tightly.

“Be safe, ma’am,” he murmured against my hair.

“I always do what I can.” “Though I could do a better job of it if I knew what the hell your boss was up to,” I thought directly at Mychael.

“In a moment.”

“It better be a quick one.”

We watched as the fake Mychael and Raine went into the courtyard and mounted Kalinpar. Vegard quickly walked past them and out into the street. A few moments later I heard the clatter of horses’ hooves as the remaining Guardians headed back to the citadel with Talon. The sentry dragon unfolded his leathery wings and in three beats was hovering over the courtyard. Then Mychael’s double turned the dragon toward the citadel; in a few moments they, Vegard, and the Guardians with him were gone.

And Mychael and I were alone.

“How are you holding up?” he asked me.

“I’m ready for anything.” I looked him up and down and took my sweet time doing it. “So, is this what you wear when you’re off duty?”

“I’m still on duty, just a different kind of job.”

“When someone in my family dresses like that, it means they’re up to no good.”

“No doubt certain people would see it that way.”

“Like Carnades or Balmorlan.”

“That’s two.”

“You knew what was going to happen in there.”

“Carnades is many things; fortunately predictable is one of them. When I found out that he’d framed Tam, I knew what he would do to try to make it stick. So I did what Carnades expected and wanted me to do—I came here.” He flashed a grin. “Though I don’t think he got what he wanted and neither did Taltek Balmorlan.”

“Incriminating ourselves as being in an umi’atsu bond,” I said silently. Our bond was something that I would not discuss out loud. “Three birds with one stone. Or in our case three birds and one stone.”

“Counteracting Carnades was a simple matter of Vidor and me working out a few details ahead of time.” Mychael moved to mindspeak, too.

“The lie about him hearing Nukpana—”

“Was one of them. This was another. Coming here gave me the opportunity to be seen leaving here—with you.”

“Where are we going?”

Mychael reached out with both hands and pulled my hood up to hide my face. “Hunting.”