The Crystal Seas

Chapter SIXTEEN

The three guards escorted Blade up to the Fourth Chamber as nervously as if they had been escorting a virgin princess to her wedding chamber. It took all the strength Blade could find not to fall on his face on the thick red carpet in the hallway.

Three maidservants took over from the pikemen when Blade reached the Fourth Chamber. Two were fresh-faced and smiling, but the third wore a veil that left only one brown eye visible out of her whole face. All three bustled about as eagerly as puppies, stripping off Blade's filthy clothing, sponging him with herb-scented hot water, and massaging the kinks and knots out of his muscles. He lay face down on the big feather bed, letting them work, until the tension and strain left his mind.

But he didn't relax too much. So far Sister Brigeda and her servants had done nothing that suggested he was in any danger. But he couldn't rule out some future plots, which he might be helpless to resist. He couldn't even use most of his unarmed combat skills, not wounded and exhausted as he was. However, he needed the treatment he was getting. That was for certain. And if there was going to be treachery afterward, Blade was sure he could at least take a number of Sister Brigeda's household with him.

However, the next person to come into the chamber was not an assassin. It was another maidservant, pushing a wheeled cart with several dishes on it. There was cold cheese and bread and meat and hot wine. Blade looked at the cart hungrily and heard his stomach rumble ominously. But he shook his head at the maid. Once again he would take no chances with drugged food or wine. He would have to speak to Sister Brigeda herself before he could be sure if it was safe for him to eat and drink in her house.

«You are not hungry,» said the maid with the veiled face.

«I am not,» said Blade. He hoped his stomach wouldn't rumble again, loudly enough to prove him a liar.

It didn't. But his words apparently weren't enough to convince them. All four sat down cross-legged on the rug and stared at him. Occasionally their eyes wandered from Blade to the food and back again. The silence in the room thickened like a fog. Blade wondered how long he could refuse the food and wine without giving offense.

The silence was broken by the arrival of Sister Brigeda herself. Her flashing dark eyes took in the whole scene-Blade lying in bed, the untouched food, the staring girls-in a single sweeping glance. Then she lowered her eyes to the maids and jerked her head toward the door. Almost with a single motion, they sprang to their feet and scurried out into the hall, pulling the door shut behind them.

Brigeda sat down on the blue velvet cushion in the far corner of the room and stared at Blade. He thought he detected amusement in those dark eyes. He stared back, taking in the woman. There were wrinkles around her eyes and a bit of sagging skin on her neck; she must be forty or well past it. But otherwise she showed no signs of a life spent at her ancient and demanding profession. Her skin was smooth and high colored, her swept-back hair glossy black, her figure still almost girlishly slender and quick in its movements. Only a large jutting beak of a nose marred her features. No, not marred. Gave them character-a character that made Blade think of a bird of prey ready to plunge on a victim. The look in the wide dark eyes matched that air.

But Brigeda's red lips curled in a smile before she spoke. That smile didn't take the edge off Blade's alertness.

«You are not really an escaped slave of Durkas's, are you?»

Blade found it easy to decide that lying to this woman would be a bad move. Perhaps a fatal one.

«No, I am not.»

«In fact, you are not any kind of escaped slave from anybody's household, are you?»

«I am not a slave at all, Sister Brigeda.» Blade made his voice as flat and menacing as possible.

Brigeda ignored the tone. «I thought so. You have the mark of someone's trusted henchman. Not Durkas or Tymgur, I hope.»

Blade's training held. He let the remark pass without showing any sign of surprise. But he noted the unmistakable hostility in Brigeda's voice when she said the Duke's name.

Then he shook his head.

«Good. Do you serve the Emperor?»

Blade was tempted to say yes. If Brigeda was loyal to the Emperor, as seemed likely, she would never dream of touching an imperial agent. But balanced against that chance of safety was the chance of being caught out in a lie. Once more Blade decided against lying to Sister Brigeda.

«I do not.»

That apparently stopped the courtesan in mid-thought. Her high forehead wrinkled into a puzzled frown, which Blade watched with interest, almost with relief.

«Who-who is your master, then?»

Blade did not hesitate. It was the right moment to add to his psychological edge, and the best way to do that was to tell the truth.

«Krodrus, the Autocrat for Finance of the Sea Cities of Talgar.»

That not only stopped Brigeda's thoughts, but nearly stopped her breath. There was another long silence. Blade thought of also mentioning the Sea Masters, but decided against it. It would certainly further amaze Sister Brigeda, but the Sea Master-Talgaran alliance was too important a secret to reveal right now.

Besides, Blade wanted to keep his escape route open.

The silence went on and on, until Blade wondered if Sister Brigeda was ever going to speak again. Finally she shook her head and raised one hand to her immaculately coiffed hair. It was the first nervous gesture Blade had seen her make.

«How-how does Talgar send- spies — into Nurn?»

«Through a newly discovered wisdom. They suspect plots against them among the nobles of Nurn, seek to discover who is plotting, and how to foil him.»

Brigeda's calm sagged a little further. Her hand went to her mouth, and her eyes widened. «You-suspect anyone?»

«We do.» Once again Blade made his voice as flat as possible.

«Who?» Brigeda's question was almost a sob.

«Why should I tell you?» said Blade. This time he put a deliberate chill into his voice, intending to shock.

If it shocked at all, it shocked Brigeda back into a more sober mood. «To avoid being taken down into my cellar and-asked-who it is, until you will beg for the opportunity to tell me and my Sisters.»

«I will die before that happens. You may, and many of your household certainly will.» Blade put a bantering note in his voice. «There will be blood and bodies all over your house, your business will be wrecked, and I will be as dead as an iron spike. What good will that do you, Sister?»

Brigeda had apparently expected her cool threat to intimidate Blade. When it didn't, she was once again at a loss for words. Blade decided to take a small risk to improve his position. It was only a small risk, for he had made plans against this sort of situation before parting with the four sailors.

«In any case, what can you do without my men?»

«Your men?»

«Yes, my men. Do you think an Autocrat of Talgar is such a fool as to send a man against the nobles of Nurn alone? I will need my comrades with me if I am to help you against your-enemy. If that is what you want, of course.»

«Oh yes.» There was no mistaking the eagerness in Brigeda's voice.

«Good. Then I will tell you where my men may be found, and you can send your most trusted servant to them with a message. The message will be in a code, so there will be no danger to your man. But it will assure my men that I am safe and tell them to cooperate with you.» It would tell them a few others things as well, but those were better not mentioned. «Can you do that?»

Brigeda swallowed, then nodded. «My steward will go forth this very night.» She swallowed again. «Is there anything else I can do for you?»

«Yes,» said Blade. «You can leave me alone to get some sleep.» Nothing was going to happen for at least twelve hours. After that a lot might happen very fast, and Blade wanted to be ready.

Brigeda nodded and left on silent feet.

She was back again only a little more than the twelve hours later. She was not silent as she stormed through the door, waving a bloodstained piece of paper, but cursing like a fishwife. Her eyes blazed and her finely chiseled nostrils flared. Blade could see her breast heaving under her tight bodice as she sucked in air.

Then she burst out furiously at Blade.

«You wretched, slimy traitor! Do you know what your men did? They took Jeshorn prisoner, and they're holding him and torturing him and-oh gods! They sent this message back, and-what are you doing? What-you-mmmmfggggg!» as Blade rolled out of bed, scooped her up with one arm, and slapped the other hand over her mouth.

He carried her to the bed, clasped both her hands in one of his, and kept the other over her mouth. «Do you promise not to move or speak until I've finished?» Silence. «If you don't, I'll have to bind and gag you, and that would be silly.» She nodded. «Don't play any tricks, either. If you do, you'll certainly never get my support even if you live long enough to need it.» Brigeda moaned, and nodded frantically.

«Good.» Blade let her stretch out on the bed, then stepped over to the door, locked it, and stood with his back to it.

«Now, Sister. Let's put an end to this playing of children's games. You must have thought me a fool, if you thought I would blurt out my plans simply at your little threat. But you made me wonder what you might be planning. So I had to arrange for your steward to be captured to provide for my own safety-just in case. I would have been just as big a fool if I had not done that. All this has taken nearly a day, a day that's been practically wasted. I don't think we have that much time to waste.

«You want to do something to-or about Duke Tymgur and Durkas, don't you?»

«Only Durkas,» said Sister Brigeda quietly. «We know Duke Tymgur is beyond our reach. But Durkas-«She broke off and clenched her fists until the knuckles were white.

«Very well, Durkas.» Again Blade decided a part of his plans should remain secret. «So do I-so do we, in Talgar. I think you want my help. In fact, I think you desperately need it, otherwise you would not have threatened me. And if you could have found anyone to work against Durkas before this, he would not be troubling either of us.»

Sister Brigeda's face was working as she listened to Blade strip her plans and schemes naked. Before he had finished, he saw tears glistening in the corners of both dark eyes.

«So why play any more games?» he finished. «I think we have a common purpose and a common enemy. If you will tell me why the Sisters of the Night call Durkas their enemy, I will tell you the same for the Sea Cities. Then we can begin planning.»

Brigeda's mouth dropped open. «You want to see-hear — why we hold Durkas an enemy?»

«Yes.»

She hesitated. «May I call one of my household?»

Blade nodded. «Certainly. But no tricks.»

«I promise.» Brigeda rose and went to the door, opened it, and called down the stairs.

«Send Sister Clarda to the Fourth Chamber.» Brigeda closed the door and turned back into the room.

«Durkas-«She swallowed. «Durkas is a man of-strange tastes. He loves-pain, and women screaming. Sister Clarda went to him some years ago on a contract. She came back, but no other Sister has ever gone since. He must make do with girls from the slave pens or kidnapped from other households.»

Blade nodded. «He must do fairly well. I heard a woman screaming when I was in his garden the other night.»

Footsteps sounded on the stairs outside. Then came a soft voice. «Brigeda, it is I, Clarda.»

«Come in, my Sister.»

The door opened and the young woman with the veiled face slipped in. She stood silently for a moment, and Blade found himself oddly uncomfortable under her stare. Then Brigeda nodded and said quietly, «Remove your veil, Clarda.»

The veil dropped to the floor. Blade kept his face straight with an effort as he saw what lay underneath it. Clarda had been beautiful-once. Then someone had slashed her face deeply from scalp to chin, using a sawtoothed edge, leaving a dreadful gouge and taking out her left eye. She wore a green silk patch over what must have been a mutilated and empty socket, for which Blade was grateful.

«This was Durkas's work,» said Brigeda. «Do you need to look at it any longer?»

«No,» said Blade.

«You may go, Clarda.» The younger Sister pulled her veil back on with desperate haste and fumbling lingers, then vanished out the door.

Blade turned to Sister Brigeda. «I begin to think that I can indeed trust you. If Durkas did this. . You want vengeance on him?»

«For this and much else. If you will help bring him into our hands, he will suffer as have all his girls before we leave his head before Tymgur's gate.» She paused. «And now-you promised to tell me, why the Sea Cities had a quarrel with Durkas.»

Blade had his answer ready. «He is conspiring with our Autocrat for War, Stipors, to sow dissension and civil war in Talgar. He has dreams of using the war between us and the Fishmen to give himself influence in the Sea Cities.»

«Durkas has these dreams?» said Brigeda. «Not Duke Tymgur, his master?»

«Not that I know of,» said Blade. He hoped he was still able to lie with a straight face well enough to deceive Brigeda.

Apparently he was. She sighed with obvious relief and stood up. «Then it is settled, Blade. If you will give your men proper instructions, I will give the same to mine. We can easily lay a trap for Durkas, and when that trap springs shut, he will be in our hands. And then he will suffer. Oh, how he will suffer!»

Once more Blade kept his face straight. Durkas was not going to be thrown to the Sisters of the Night for their vengeance, although he certainly deserved to be. He was too important to the future of the Sea Cities-and the Sea Masters. Some complicated planning would be needed to get Durkas safely away without unnecessary bloodshed. But Brigeda had told him to give his men proper instructions. He would certainly do that. Some of those instructions, though, might come as a surprise to the Sister.

Then he looked at Brigeda. She was still standing, looking down at him. Her eyes were no longer tear-filled, but they were wide and glittering with a strange intensity. She licked her lips and spoke.

«Blade.» Silence. «I–I am a Sister who receives two thousand gold crowns for one night. One night. Yet-somehow I feel that tonight-I want to be only a woman. No, not even that. A girl-an ordinary girl, perhaps with her first man. You-you have answered so many of my dreams and prayers, Blade. Answer one more for me, for you are-beautiful.»

Blade didn't need much time to interpret that sort of invitation or to respond to it. If he ever did, he would probably be getting unfit for his job.

He crossed the room in two quick steps. Brigeda's arms rose to meet him and go around him. They were surprisingly strong arms, as slender as they were. What was not surprising was the skill of those swift-moving hands of hers.

They stroked his eyes and up over his forehead, then down his cheeks, across his ears, plucked at his earlobes, then went on and on and on. After a while Blade realized they were gliding down off his face and down inside the heavy chamber robe he wore. He bent his head and tipped up Brigeda's, until their lips met. Her lips were as experienced and expert as her hands. So was her tongue, sleek, warm and wet, crawling out and curling under and over his. Blade began to feel a warmth that wasn't in the air of the chamber, and his breathing quickened. His hands drifted down along Brigeda's back, pressing into the elegant curve of her spine and on her small perfectly formed buttocks. He heard her gasp.

Her hands now plunged down farther under the robe, pressing against the flat muscles of his rib cage and stroking the fiat stomach. But they did not stop there. They plunged farther down and grasped Blade's swollen maleness. It had already risen to meet them as they came down to close around it, so that it hardly needed their gentle warmth on it. But incredibly it stiffened still further as Brigeda's hands touched it. Blade began to feel as though he had a rod of steel jutting from his groin.

Before they did anything permanent, though, Brigeda's hands left Blade's groin. They rose to undo the belt of the chamber robe, so that Blade could shrug it off and stand naked, and Brigeda could press herself hard against that nakedness. Blade wasted no more time, but went to work reducing the Sister to the same nakedness. Perhaps it should have been a long, slow, luxurious job. But Blade was too impatient and too aroused not to be clumsy. Nor did Sister Brigeda mind the sound of tearing cloth. In fact, as her last garment dropped away, she bent to nuzzle her face into Blade's groin. Then those full lips closed eloquently around his swollen phallus.

Blade could almost wish she had not done that. Not only was it a horrible strain on his self-control, it distracted him from admiring her naked beauty. And there was too much of it to admire. Blade forced his attention off those skillful lips and looked down.

Everything about Sister Brigeda's body suggested the girl she felt like, rather than the woman she was. The line of her neck was perfect, with just the smallest hint of the cords. That line flowed smoothly into slim, slightly freckled shoulders, with little hollows below the shoulder blades. Those hollows rose and flowed with exquisite grace into the breasts-small, perfectly rounded, with enormous long nipples now thrusting far, far out in their red-black splendor.

Below those breasts a board-flat stomach, curving gracefully down to a patch of fine blue-black hair between the freckled thighs. Long lovely legs, small arched feet-the catalogue could go on for hours.

Perhaps the catalogue could, but Blade knew that he certainly could not. If he stood and submitted to those lips much longer, something irreparable was going to happen. He bent slightly, locked his fingers in Brigeda's hair, and gently pulled her head back from his groin. Her lips slipped once warmly along his maleness, then they were gone.

Before his erection could complain or falter, Blade had lifted Brigeda and laid her down on the bed. But she wriggled to one side as he descended. Half dazed with his arousal as he was, he found himself being turned around and turned over on his back. His erection jutted upwards as Brigeda came down onto it. She was a snug, maddening fit.

The madness rose in both of them more rapidly than before, as Brigeda twisted and turned and gyrated, up, down, and around. Sometimes she would pull back until she was almost free, then shove herself downward until Blade wondered how much room she had inside.

A lot, obviously.

But no matter how much room Brigeda had within, what she was doing was driving her steadily higher and higher. Her eyes were glazed when they weren't entirely closed, her breath came in gasps, her nipples were impossibly stiff and jutting, her skin was flushed and running with sweat. As for Blade, he found himself having to grit his teeth as glorious agony filled him. It rose higher and higher within him, and within Brigeda. It was going to overflow.

It did. Brigeda went as rigid as a statue, and let out a scream as though she were being impaled on something much sharper than Blade's maleness. Then she sagged forward, her eyes closed and her mouth open and slack. Before she could collapse on Blade, his own spasm tore through him. He rose to meet her, and they thrashed together in a tangle of writhing arms and legs for a long time, until they were both completely empty and exhausted. Still entangled, they drifted off to sleep.