narrow alleyway where the stench was more human and far less pleasant. To her right, an opening beckoned, leading to another of the warren of streets around the Center. Faintly, she thought she heard the bell chime on the herbalist’s front door. She pulled the shell necklace from under her clothing and half-ran down the alley and out into the street, letting the rush of the crowds carry her. She circled around Oldtown Center for a time, moving around it and away from where
she’d left the carriage-always looking around her to see if she saw the driver, avoiding the neighborhood utilinos with their staffs, lanterns, and whistles in case they’d been instructed to watch for her-until she heard the chant of the light-teni at their work.
Then she walked into Oldtown Center itself.
The open space was busy, but quickly looking around, Ana saw no one who seemed to be searching for her. No one seemed to notice her at all. She wondered what the driver was doing; whether he was frantically looking for her or whether he’d returned to the Archigos with the admission that he’d lost his charge. In the sky above, the first stars were twinkling, and a group of six e’teni were moving slowly from lamp to lamp, each in turn erupting into cold, bright flame. The crowd-many of them in foreign clothing-cheered with each lamp, giving the sign of Cenzi and following the teni around the perimeter, then to the quartet of lamps around the fountain.
As Ana lurked on the edge of the crowds well away from the teni, she felt someone brush against her side. “O’Teni cu’Seranta?”
She started, taking a quick step away from the man, who raised his hands as if to show he had no weapon. He was no one she knew, dressed in nondescript, plain clothing. “Who are you?”
“My name is Mika,” he said. “The rest of my name you don’t need.
Envoy ci’Vliomani asked me to escort you to where he’s waiting. He said to tell you that the shell is one from the Isle of Paeti, and that he hopes you found it interesting. Will you follow me?”
He started to walk away from the fountain and the crowds, to the west. He didn’t look back. Ana watched him for several strides, until there were several people between them. Biting her lip between her teeth, she followed at last, quickening her steps and weaving among the passersby until she was at his elbow. He didn’t speak, only moved out from the center into the narrow streets leading away and into Oldtown itself. “Where are you taking me?” she asked at last.
He shook his head without looking at her. “Nowhere you would know,” he answered. He stopped then, turning to her. “If that frightens you, then you’re free to return to Oldtown Center. I’m sure the teni would be happy to escort you back to one of the temples. I told Karl you wouldn’t come.”
“Then you were wrong.”
He seemed amused at that. He shrugged and started walking again.
They walked for some time, following streets that twisted and turned until Ana was thoroughly lost. Twice, he ushered her into the mouth of an alleyway or into the shadows between two houses as an utilino passed. They circled around a block where fire-teni were putting out a smoldering house fire. For the most part, the people they passed seemed to be intent on their own business, which in most cases was provided by the numerous taverns.
Oldtown was not an area she knew well; like most South Bank families, hers had rarely ventured over the ponticas to the North Bank except to visit Oldtown Center or the River Markets. Even when they had come here, they kept to the main streets on those excursions, never venturing too far away from the Avi a’Parete. By the time Mika stopped before a door with peeling strips of blue paint clinging stubbornly to the wood, Ana was no longer even certain which way the river lay, and full night had fallen heavily over the claustrophobic streets. Here, there were no bright teni-lights, only dim candles in windows punctuating the darkness-this seemed another city entirely. Mika rapped twice on the door, then a single sharp knock. A small peephole opened and Ana saw an eye peering out. The door opened just wide enough to admit them. Mika entered, and Ana-more hesitantly, with the opening words of a defensive chant on her lips and her hands ready to make the proper motions-followed.
She found herself in a dim foyer. Directly in front of her, steps led up to a second floor and a hallway led farther into the building; a curtained archway hid a room to the right. She could heard voices from somewhere close by. “Where is Envoy ci’Vliomani?” she demanded of Mika, but she was answered from the room to her right.
“Here.” Karl ci’Vliomani moved the curtains aside and stepped from the room. He smiled and bowed to her, his hands remaining at his sides. “Thank you, Mika. We’ll meet you upstairs,” he said, and gestured to the room behind him. “Would you come in, O’Teni? It’s hardly as grand as the Kraljica’s Palais, but it will have to do.” He smiled at her.
“I’m pleased to see you again. Truly. That shell looks far better on you than it did on me.” He smiled again; despite herself, Ana found herself returning the smile. The tension within her eased; she could feel her shoulders relax as she walked through the curtains he held aside for her.
“Water? Wine? Some cakes?” He gestured to a small table in the center of the room holding a refreshment tray.
Her stomach growled, but she shook her head. There were two windows, both heavily curtained. There was a fire in the hearth, but most of the light in the room came from a large glass ball that glowed a strange blue-white. Ana put her hands toward the globe: colder than the room by far. As cold as Ilmodo fire. “I want nothing right now, Vajiki,” she said.
“Here, at least, you could call me Karl.” He smiled again. “If you’d like.”
She’d wondered whether she’d feel that strange pull again, that attraction. Now she knew that she did.
He bowed again. “I want to apologize for the subterfuge,” he said as she glanced down once more at the light. “I assumed you wouldn’t want the Archigos to know where you were tonight, and I know
“I’m surprised you care.” She placed a hand on the globe; the shadow of it covered the wall behind her. “For all I know, the Numetodo were responsible.”
“If you truly thought we had anything to do with that, you wouldn’t be here.” The remonstrance was gentle. “We might be at odds with the Kraljica and Concenzia, but we would much rather have the Kraljica on the throne than her son.”
“Is that why I’m here, then-you think I’ll provide you with a sympathetic voice within the Faith? I’m afraid you overestimate my influence, Envoy.”
“Karl,” he corrected. “I think you’re here because you’re curious, and I asked you because. .” He stopped. He walked to the globe, put his own hand on it, and shadows leaped. Ana removed her hand quickly.
“. . because I feel that we share a common interest.”
“And what is that?”
“You want to understand how the world works, as do I.” His hand slid caressingly over the round curve of the globe. “Like how one can use the Scath Cumhacht, the Ilmodo, even in ways that your Divolonte says it shouldn’t or even can’t be used. You understand that, don’t you?”
Ana felt her stomach lurch. She told herself it was the lateness, the exertions with the Kraljica, and the fact that she’d eaten nothing for some hours. He must have seen it also, for his hand was no longer on the globe but under her elbow, and his face was concerned. “O’Teni?
Do you need to sit down?”
“I’m fine,” she told him, forcing a smile. “Just tired. I’ve. . had very little sleep in the last few days.”
“I understand. The Kraljica.” His hand had not left her arm, and she didn’t want to pull away from his touch. “I was doubly sorry that happened as it did. I. . I enjoyed talking with you, and our dance. And I would not wish the Kraljica harm.” His hand did leave her then, and he frowned. “I apologize, Ana. I presume.”
“Will be frantically looking for you, no doubt.” He nodded. “You’re right. Come with me, then. We’ll go upstairs to the hall. Things will have started by now.”
