‘I’ve never seen her so upset,’ said Tobry, who had come in without finding any signs of Rannilt or Tali. ‘This morning she seemed almost hysterical.’
‘You must have imagined it,’ said Rix. ‘Lady Ricinus is the epitome of control.’ But he had noticed it too. He laid the brush down. ‘I can’t do any more. Let’s have dinner, a bottle of wine, and then I’m having another go at the sketch. I’ve got to see the faces.’
Tobry took a measured breath. ‘After what happened to Luzia, are you sure you want to know?’
‘I have to know. It’s killing me, Tobe.’ He changed the subject. ‘Is there any news about the war?’
‘Nothing good.’
Every enemy assault led to their victory, every counterattack by Hightspall’s forces resulted in another crushing defeat. Rix had begged Lady Ricinus and pleaded with Lord Ricinus to be allowed to fight, but neither would relent.
One bottle turned into two, for Tobry had sneaked another in with him, and it was after midnight by the time they returned to the studio and Rix brought out the whited-out sketch. This time he did not have to look at the canvas — the scene was so familiar that he could have sketched it with his eyes closed.
‘It’s just the same,’ he said, slumping onto the settee once the creative fury had run out.
‘There’s a bit more,’ said Tobry. ‘Look at the little girl.’
Rix stood up. ‘Her face is blank. I can’t read anything into her.’
‘I can. Look at the way she’s jamming her fist against her mouth, as though strangling a scream.’
Worms squirmed in Rix’s belly. ‘Where’s all this coming from?’
Tobry shrugged. ‘No idea. I’ve never seen this chamber before.’
‘I don’t recognise it either — ’ Rix broke off, head cocked. ‘What was that?’
‘I didn’t hear anything.’
‘Sounded like someone yelling in the west hall.’
Remembering Luzia’s fate, Rix grabbed his sword, ran down and opened the door. The passage was empty. ‘Where the hell are the door guards?’
CHAPTER 64
The carpet came up to Tali’s ankles and her bare feet made no sound. Could this possibly work? The drunk was a large man and if he caught her she would be lucky to get free. But if she could push him over and smash the bottles, the distraction might give her a chance to check the door.
She was only a few steps away when he turned, raising the second bottle to drain it. He gulped and gasped, dropped it to the carpet and was levering out the cork of the third bottle when he saw her.
The drunk choked and swung the bottle as if to knock her out of the way. ‘No!’ he slurred. ‘You’re — ’
She thrust him hard in the chest. The bottles fell together and broke, then he staggered backwards and his head made a soggy thud as it hit the corner of the wall. He collapsed into the servants’ passage, blood pouring down his neck.
Tali stared at him, appalled. Had she killed him? The hall reeked of blood, urine and wine. She bent over him, not knowing what to do.
‘Tam?’ one of the door guards said loudly. ‘Sounds like the Lord’s done it again.’
Had they seen her? No, she was fully in the cross-passage, out of sight, but if she remained here they would find her in seconds. She ran down to the next corner and stopped to check.
The guards were bending over the drunk. ‘Is he dead?’ asked the second guard.
‘Wish the pig was,’ said the first. ‘If we’re to survive the war, the sooner the young master takes charge the better.’
‘Shh! That kind of talk can get you flogged. Get a pad on that gash, quick.’
Tali went cold inside. The drunk must be Rix’s father, Lord Ricinus, and if he died, she would have killed him. But if he survived they would turn the palace upside-down looking for her.
She hobbled down and was hesitating outside the door when it was opened by Rix. ‘What the blazes are you doing here?’ he hissed. ‘If you’re seen — ’
He caught her wrist, yanked her inside and locked the door.
D
Rix took her by the shoulders, holding her so tightly that it hurt. ‘Why have you come here? It’s not safe.’
She glared up at him. ‘Let — me — go.’
‘Sorry.’ Rix released her and stepped back, rubbing his hair until it stood up in tangles. ‘What am I supposed to do?’
‘Do you want me to go?’ she said stiffly.
Go where? Back to the manor, which was probably being searched at this moment? She looked around. She was in a broad hall. The tiles underfoot were polished white marble, large paintings were hung down either wall, and through an open door she glimpsed a bed the size of ten slaves’ cells in Cython. The one imperfection was a faint, rotten-egg-gas smell from the hissing gas lanterns.
He hesitated a long time before saying, ‘Of course not. But … why are you here?’
‘Who’s after you?’ said Rix.
‘My mother’s killers.’
His eyes were bloodshot and sunken, with dark circles around them. He looked as though he had not slept in days and her heart went out to him, but she had to harden it. She had to confront him about the murder, now. She might not get another chance.
‘Rix?’ she began.
He groaned and wrenched at his hair.
‘Are you all right?’ she said. ‘You look dreadful.’
His laugh had an edge of hysteria. What could have happened since she last saw him?
‘Mother has just searched the palace for you. She’s also ordered that I marry.’
‘Marry?’ she said, bemused.
‘I have no heir and she won’t allow me to fight until I produce one. Also, Father’s portrait is a disaster, the war is a catastrophe — and dear, sweet Luzia, who never hurt anyone in her whole life, has been murdered.’
‘Your childhood nurse?’ said Tali, her belly throbbing. Her voice rose. ‘The woman you sent Rannilt to?’
‘Yes, and she’s run away. Tobry can’t find her. He’s looked everywhere.’
Tali slumped back against the wall. Murdered? And Rannilt lost in a city at war, with no one to look after her. ‘Why was she murdered?’
‘To stop her talking to me. I wanted to ask her about my childhood, a fever that nearly killed me — ’
‘When you were ten,’ said Tali.
‘How did you know? I suppose Tobry told you.’
He was shaking. Impulsively, she put her arms around him and he clung to her for a few seconds as though she was the only solid thing in the world. How could she confront him about the murder now? She would have to wait.
‘Why did Rannilt run?’ said Tali.
‘She tried to heal Luzia but the wound was beyond any healer. Perhaps she ran in panic or terror. Poor child, the things she’s witnessed. What are we going to do?’
‘I don’t know.’ She could not focus. ‘Rix, I keep hearing the
‘Call? What call?’ He picked up a water carafe and gulped at it, spilling water down his front, then put it down so abruptly that it shattered.
‘The strange note in my head. My enemies are using it to track me.’
Rix paced towards the front door but spun on one foot and came back, almost running, his limbs jerking. He
