“He did a great deal for our family. But why do I keep talking of nothing but my ancestors? Come, let me acquaint you with my collection!”
The count took out an elegant key and unlocked the door nearest to us. It was a good lock, too; I would have to sweat long and hard before I could get it open.
“Make yourself at home, duke. And you, too, dralan, go in. Well? What do you say?”
“Impressive.”
“My little passion.”
“Its value is not so very little, count,” I said, looking round at Balistan Pargaid’s collection.
“Oh! You know about such things?”
“A little. I am interested in antiques…”
“Well then, how would you assess the value of this set of trinkets, dralan?”
“About seventeen thousand gold pieces. But that is only an approximate figure.”
“Oh! You really do know something about antiques. Sixteen and a half thousand, to be precise. Your Lordship, did you happen by any chance to bring along the trinket that I mentioned in my letter?”
“The bracelet? Yes, Dralan Par has it. He is the one who is interested in such things.”
“Here it is, count.”
I handed the ogres’ piece of handiwork to Balistan Pargaid.
“By the way, how did you come to know that I had this little item?” Eel asked casually, as he examined a sword corroded with rust.
“Rumors.” The count laughed, examining the almost obliterated ancient inscription on the bracelet.
“One of my servants, no doubt…”
“Yes, servants are an unreliable breed. But take my advice, duke: Nothing brings a servant to his senses like a good flogging. By the way, will you be in Ranneng for long?”
“No, I am just passing through and intend to go back in the morning.”
“Simply traveling?”
“Yes,” the Garrakian replied curtly as the count carefully studied the fascinating article from the Age of Achievements.
Walking up to the window, I saw the park painted silver by the moonlight.
“You have taken the precaution of installing bars on the windows, count.”
“I’m sorry, what did you say, dralan?” asked Balistan Pargaid, interrupting his contemplation of the black bracelet for a moment. “Ah yes! To stop thieves. I have put bars in this wing. Here and in my bedroom. Although after my men skinned two thieves alive, the local guild of thieves decided not to risk any more of its members.”
“I think that will not last long. You have a fortune here…”
“Well, time will tell.”
It certainly will. I’m sure the bars are not the full story; the windows and, perhaps, even the doors are protected by a couple of magic surprises to give intruders a warm, or rather, hot welcome.
“How much do you want for it?” Balistan Pargaid asked, handing the bracelet back to me regretfully.
I weighed the bracelet in my hand, mentally taking leave of it forever. Ah! How I’d love to take its full value in gold from the count, but Miralissa said …
“Take it as a gift. It didn’t cost me anything.”
Balistan Pargaid made no attempt to refuse, which indicated quite clearly that he was a man of intelligence who took anything that happened to be there for the taking. But he was rather staggered.
“Dralan Par!” It was the first time he had called me by my full name. “I am in your debt.”
“Well then,” I said, forcing a smile. “Let’s get back to the hall quickly, or they’ll drink all the wine while we’re gone.”
Balistan Pargaid smiled, carefully placed his new acquisition beside a battle-ax from the Gray Age, and nodded.
“And what is behind this door? Another little collection worth sixteen thousand in gold?” I asked the count when we had left the room.
“Oh no! This is my bedroom. I deliberately sleep close to my treasures,” the count said with a laugh. “But let us go, or my guests really will think that I have forgotten about them.”
Perhaps that really is his bedroom. But the Key is in there, too. I felt its call very clearly now. For a moment there I wanted to hit Balistan Pargaid over the head while his back was turned, then take advantage of the commotion to sneak into the room and steal the Key.
But I couldn’t do that. Miralissa ordered me only to find out where the Key was, but not to touch it under any circumstances.… And if the dark elfess thinks that for the time being the artifact should not be touched, then that’s how it’s got to be.
In the hall the music was still playing, people were making idle chit-chat, and Kli-Kli had clambered up onto a table and was juggling four cream buns. By absurd coincidence a fifth landed on his pointed cap to general laughter and a storm of applause.
My attention was attracted by a woman in a bloodred dress, standing all alone beside the babbling fountain.
She was short, with light brown hair that just reached her bare shoulders, high cheekbones, a very slight crook in her nose, and pensive blue eyes. You couldn’t really call her a beauty, but I could hardly take my eyes off her. There was something about her … I can’t describe it in words. This woman literally radiated waves of power and attraction.
Power? I wonder if that’s what I’m sensing, or is Valder sensing it?
Balistan Pargaid noticed my glance and smiled knowingly:
“Come, gentlemen, let me introduce you to my guest.”
The female stranger smelled of fresh strawberries. She was not wearing any jewelery apart from earrings in the form of spiders with their legs tenderly embracing the lobes of her ears.
“Lady Iena! Allow me to introduce my dear guest. His Lordship Ganet Shagor. And this is Dralan Par.”
The plump, attractive lips smiled, and the young woman bowed her head as she bobbed down in a casual curtsey.
“My respects to you, gentlemen…”
Her voice sent a chilly shiver running down my spine and I shuddered. It had been dark in the Master’s prison, and I hadn’t been able to see the Messenger’s captive clearly. But I recognized her voice, even though she had not talked as much as the late lamented Leta.
Lady Iena and Lafresa were the same woman.
“What’s wrong, dralan?” she asked me with concern, apparently having noticed how dumbfounded I was.
“Don’t be concerned, milady. It’s nothing to worry about. I am not used to attending such impressive receptions, that’s all,” I said awkwardly.
I wanted very badly to get out of that house as quickly as possible. While I was busy trying to be a dralan, I had completely forgotten that Lafresa was also desperate to get hold of the Key. This was big trouble. We had really serious problems now!
“Is everything to your liking, milady?” the count asked.
“Yes, thank you. I am tired after the journey, please forgive me. Good night, gentlemen.”
She left us and started walking up the stairs.
All this time Kli-Kli, who was standing some distance away, had been making faces at me and pointing desperately by turns at the white tablecloth on a small table with drinks and at his own face.
I gave a faint nod.
I don’t understand.
Another jab of his finger in the direction of the white tablecloth, then at his face, and then a highly suggestive gesture, running the edge of his hand across his throat. What’s he trying to tell me?
Kli-Kli gave a despairing grin and hurried across to us.
“Milord, of course I understand that the evening has been a success, and your dralan has even turned pink from drinking, but unfortunately Milla and Eralla, to their own supreme regret, will have to leave the gathering. They
