“Much as I’d like to kid myself that is the case, Tarja, I’m not a fool. What’s really going on?”
“I can’t say, Miff. All I can do is suggest that you quit while you’re ahead.”
The chubby
He could have hugged her for being so astute. “A few days. A week at most. Your profession won’t be looked upon kindly after that.”
“I owe you for this, Tarja.”
“You don’t owe me anything, Miff. Consider it a debt repaid.”
“What debt?”
“I was fourteen the first time I came to Mistress Lyndah’s. You didn’t laugh at me.”
She chuckled at the memory. “I was a lot thinner in those days. You were a sweet boy then, Tarja, and you still are, in my book. Tell me, do you plan to act on your own advice, or stay here and let them kill you?”
Her blunt question startled him. “I haven’t decided yet, but I don’t plan on letting anybody kill me.”
“Well, that’s something, I suppose. You know, I’ll need some guards when I leave. I’ve quite a haul in the chest under my bed. Not looking for a job, are you?”
He shook his head. “Sorry, but I’ve got other things demanding my attention.”
“Ah well, it was worth a try. I’ll ask young Dace. He seems to know everybody in the whole damned camp.”
Tarja stopped dead, almost jerking Miffany off her feet. “Dace? A fair-haired lad about so high? Wears the worst collection of cast-off clothing you’ve ever seen?”
“That’s our Dace,” Miff agreed. “How do you know him?”
“I came here looking for him.”
“I thought it was too much to hope that you came here just to see me,” she sighed.
“Where can I find him?”
She shrugged. “Who knows? He’s a sweet boy too, but every time he appears, something goes missing. He hangs around with a Karien boy. They turn up every now and then, looking for a meal.”
“And you feed them, of course.”
“Of course.”
“Do you have any idea where I can find him? It’s really important.”
Miffany thought for a moment and then nodded. “Try old Draginya, the herb woman. She lives over by Will Barley’s tavern tent. She’s a weird old buzzard, always praying to the Primal gods and muttering to herself, but I’ve seen Dace with her now and then. She might know where he is.”
Tarja bent down and kissed Miffany’s plump cheek. “You are the best.”
“Then how come you’re leaving?” she called after him.
Tarja would have found Draginya’s tent simply by following the smell, even if Miffany had not described its location. The tent was crammed with dried herbs and a smoking brazier that gave off an aroma unlike anything he had smelled before. The old woman was wrapped in several tattered shawls against the cold and she looked up with rheumy eyes as Tarja bent almost double to get through the tent flap. He straightened up once he was inside, his head brushing the roof of the tent.
“Captain Tarja Tenragan,” the old woman said, as if she expected him.
“How do you know who I am?” The tent was gloomy and he had to squint to make her out.
“You are the demon child’s appointed lover. Kalianah has made it so. She told me about you.”
Tarja was still atheist enough not to want to know what she meant. “I seek Dacendaran.”
“The God of Thieves? An odd companion for a man like you.”
“Do you know where he is?”
“The gods are everywhere, Captain.”
“I was hoping you could be a bit more specific.”
The old woman smiled revealing toothless pink gums. “Dacendaran said you were unusual for a Defender. I see what he means.”
“I need to speak with him,” Tarja insisted.
“The gods listen to all our prayers, Captain.”
“I don’t want to pray to him, dammit, I need to ask him something!”
“Well, there’s no need to yell, Tarja. I’m not deaf.” He spun around to find the God of Thieves standing behind him. The boy looked unchanged from the last time he had seen him in Testra, but that was hardly surprising. Dace pushed past him and knelt down beside the old woman. “Is he bullying you, Draginya? Shall I turn him into something with six legs that likes to live under a rock?”
“He is young, Divine One, and at the mercy of Kalianah’s geas.”
Dace stood up and turned to Tarja. “Well, it seems you get to stay in one piece. What did you want?”
“Where’s R’shiel?”
“At the Citadel, I suppose,” Dace shrugged.
“Something’s happened to her.”
“I’d know if she were dead. You humans worry far too much.”
Tarja glared at the boy. “Jenga has been ordered to surrender.”
That news gave the god pause. His grin faded. “That’s probably not a good sign.”
“Dace, the only way that order could have been issued is if R’shiel failed. Something has happened to her.”
“Well, if it has, it’s her own fault. I offered to go with them, but did they want my help?
“
“What? Oh, I’m sorry. What did you want me to do?”
“Find out... what happened... to R’shiel,” Tarja explained very slowly and carefully.
“Oh. I suppose that’s not a bad idea. If something’s happened to her, we’ll have to start this whole demon child thing all over again. Now that
“How long will it take?”
Dace shrugged. “I don’t know.”
Tarja clenched his fists at his side, rather than grab Dace around the throat and shake him soundly, which was what he really wanted to do. “When will you leave?”
“You are
“She could be in danger, Dace.”
“She might just be sunning herself beside a pool somewhere, too,” the god retorted. “On the other hand, it is winter and R’shiel never was the sort to relax, although it wouldn’t do her any harm... Oh, stop looking at me like that! I’ll go and see what’s happening, but I won’t cross Zegarnald if he’s got a hand in this. He’s as strong as he’s ever been with this war going on.”
“You do whatever you have to, Divine One,” Tarja agreed.
Dace grinned. “
“I believe in you Dace, I just don’t happen to want to worship you.”
“Ah, well,” the god sighed. “Just so long as you never tell Kalianah you love her.”
“That’s not very likely.”
“Glad to hear it. Will you see that Draginya gets away safely?”
Tarja nodded. The boy turned to the old woman and kissed her cheek. “See, Tarja will take care of you. I’d better go see what’s happened to the demon child.”
Dace vanished without warning, leaving Tarja frowning and old Draginya smiling toothlessly.
Chapter 53
