Cascet of souls

CHAPTER 22. Changes of Plans

SEREGIL and Alec were dressing for dinner with Malthus the following night while Thero, whom they’d finally worn down, strolled in the garden, when Runcer appeared at their chamber door with a sealed letter from Lady Ysmay.

Alec broke the seal and read the contents. “Oh no!” he gasped.

“What is it?” asked Seregil, looking up in the act of pulling on a boot.

“It’s Kylith. She’s-she’s dead.”

Seregil stared at him a moment, dumbstruck, then let the boot fall and reached for the letter. “Illior’s Light! Does it say how?”

“Died in her sleep in her bedchamber this afternoon.” Alec shook his head sadly. “She didn’t look sick at dinner last night.”

Stricken, Seregil sank back on the bed and rested his face in his hands. “I can’t believe it. I mean, I knew I’d outlive her, but she was one of my first friends when I came into society. She helped me so much-”

Alec went to him and put an arm around him as Seregil drew in a shaky breath. “I’m so sorry. I know she was more than a friend. It sounds like she went peacefully, at least.”

Seregil sighed. “Looks like we’ll be disappointing Malthus tonight. We’d better go give Thero the news.”

“What’s wrong?” the wizard asked the moment he laid eyes on them.

Seregil showed him the letter.

“May Astellus carry her gently. Seregil, I’m so sorry. She was a delightful lady.”

“The wake begins tomorrow morning. I’ll send a note to Malthus,” said Alec, taking charge.

“Thank you, tali.”

Atre was dressing to go out the following morning when Brader came in without knocking.

“What are you doing up here?” he demanded. “The others are already at the theater, waiting for rehearsal.”

“I’m afraid the theater will be dark tonight, and a few more besides,” said Atre, still dressing in front of the mirror on the wall. “Haven’t you heard? Lady Kylith passed away. I’m going to pay the respects of the company.”

Brader stared at him a moment, then grabbed him by the front of his fine linen shirt and slammed him against the wall hard enough to set the mirror swinging on its nail. “Not again!”

Atre grinned. “What makes you think-?”

Brader pulled his fist back, trembling with anger. “I can see it on you! I can see it in your eyes. You swore to me!”

Atre ignored the imminent threat to his face. “She was old, cousin. Old people die. I understand that it was very peaceful. What do you care anyway? She’d already cut us off. What use was she anymore?”

“We’re safe here, Atre! Or we were. You’re taking too many anyway, and now?” He turned away with a look of disgust. “You just can’t leave well enough alone, can you?”

“You’ve forgotten what it’s like with the good ones, cousin. How you relished them. You’ve been living on crumbs for too long. I have another one with me, right over there. Seems old Marquis Yarin took sick suddenly at his summer estate last week. Such a pity. Look me in the eye and tell me you don’t crave it as much as I do.”

“Brader, did you find him?” Merina called. They could hear her coming up the stairs.

Atre clucked his tongue. “Dear me, cousin, what will you tell her this time? Or shall I bring her into our little secret?”

Brader closed his eyes and took a deep breath. “Damn you.”

“Brader, is that you?” Merina called from just outside.

“Yes, love. I found him. I’m afraid we’ve had some bad news.” He looked back at Atre as he reached for the door handle. “At least put something on your face!”

Atre lounged against the wall and pouted at him. “Oh, look, you’ve torn my favorite shirt.”

Leaving Atre to make himself presentable, Brader went to head off Merina. He thought he’d schooled his expression, but Merina took one look at him and her eyes widened with dismay.

“You two are fighting again?” She caught up with him and clasped him by the arm. “And don’t tell me it’s nothing, Brader! Things have been going so well. He’s happy. I thought you were happy, too.”

“It’s not that, love.” How he hated lying to her! “We’ve just had word that Lady Kylith died.”

“Oh, no!” Merina came into his arms and rested her head on his shoulder. “The poor dear! She was so good to the children, and so generous.”

“Yes.” Brader held her close and kissed her hair. With her warm tears dampening his shirt, he couldn’t say any more than that. Building on the lie caught in his throat.

“Another dead patron,” she whispered against his chest.

“She was old, Merina, and she’d withdrawn her patronage.”

“She did? Why didn’t you tell me?”

“I didn’t want to worry you.”

Merina sighed. “She wasn’t that old, Brader, and not the first. Sometimes I wonder if we bring bad luck with us.”

“Don’t be ridiculous. People die.”

She gave him a worried look. “It’s more than just today. I’ve been concerned for a while now, though I haven’t wanted to say anything. Atre gets this gleam in his eye sometimes, something wild, and so often it means we’re moving on again. This is the best place we’ve ever been!”

“Not to worry, my dear!” Atre exclaimed as he came out of his room, dressed in his best black coat. “I’m off to pay the

company’s respects at poor Lady Kylith’s wake. Such a loss!” He kissed her cheek, then pulled on a fine pair of black kid gloves. “Nothing to fret your pretty head about, though. There are plenty more rich fish in this lovely, fertile Rhiminee sea, and I plan to stay here for a very long time.”

Seregil, Alec, and Thero arrived at Kylith’s villa to find it already full of mourners and a cold feast laid out in the reception hall. Dead she might be, but Kylith’s hospitality lived on. Looking around, Seregil saw Eirual and a number of her courtesans, as well as Count Selin and Malthus. A very somber Ysmay was attending to the guests, dressed in black and jet.

Seregil went to her and kissed her on both cheeks. “Ysmay, I’m sorry for your loss. Thank you for sending word.”

“Of course,” she replied sadly. “She loved both of you very much.” She paused and dabbed at her eyes with an already damp and wrinkled lace handkerchief. Seregil took his out and pressed it into her hand.

“Thank you. It was so sudden! And she was so looking forward to the play last night. She just said she was a little tired. I had no idea-”

“I doubt she did, either, my dear,” Seregil said.

“May we see her?” asked Alec.

“I’ll be here,” Thero told them.

Ysmay led Seregil and Alec up the gilded marble staircase to Kylith’s bedchamber, where the lady was laid out on the bed in a magnificent gold-embroidered gown and slippers, and heavy gold and ruby jewelry. Her hair was perfectly coiffed, as always, and adorned with jeweled pins.

“You did her proud, Ysmay.” Seregil went to the bedside. “Rhiminee has lost some of its light today.” He placed a hand over Kylith’s where they rested on her breast and bent to kiss her brow. A single tear ran down her cheek as if she were weeping rather than him. Accepting Alec’s handkerchief, he carefully blotted the streak of moisture away so as not to mar her carefully applied cosmetics.

They returned downstairs to find Duke Reltheus there.

“Such a wonderful lady.” Reltheus sighed. “I wish I’d gotten to know her better.”

“Mother is devastated,” said Selin. “She was friends with her since before I was born. Lady Kylith was always there, my whole life, like an extra aunt.” He broke off and wiped his eyes.

Just then Atre was ushered in by the doorman. He could easily have been mistaken for a nobleman, so richly was he dressed and bejeweled. His mouth was set in a tragic line, and he looked pale and drawn.

“I hope I do not give offense with my presence,” he murmured, coming over to join them. He cast a curious look at Thero. “I could not believe the news. Though when you did not come to the theater last night- Such a tragedy!”

At this range Seregil could see that Atre was wearing a bit of cosmetics. His grief might be genuine, perhaps enough to affect his looks, but his vanity was clearly intact.

They exchanged condolences, then Atre went to offer his sympathies to the grieving niece.

“He must have been very fond of her,” said Thero.

“Perhaps, though I think he was more interested in her purse, which is now in the hands of Ysmay.”

Thero shook his head disapprovingly. “The man is nothing if not bold.”

“It’s a shame he and Kylith were on such strained terms at the end,” said Alec.

Ysmay was weeping in Atre’s arms now.

Seregil frowned, watching them. “It doesn’t seem to have affected relations with the niece. I suspect he’s just secured his new patron.”