Yvaughan tried to clear her muddled mind. “What… what are you saying, Teryl? That I deliberately hurt myself?” The man nodded, a twitch gripping his shoulders. “I’m afraid so, lady.” He applied one last dab of salve and a bandage. “There, that’s the last of it.”
“But I don’t understand, Teryl,” Yvaughan’s voice dropped to a whisper. She could barely keep her eyes open. “I don’t understand. Why would I want to hurt myself. Why?” Teryl gathered his things together and looked down at her. Her cloudy mind thought it heard the words, “You’ll find out soon enough, lady. Soon enough.” The mage turned on his heel and left the room.
Sir Brisbois nervously paced the flagstone bridle path leading to the back of the stables. White puffs of breath escaped his lips in the cold, biting air. “It’s just like Maldrake to make me wait,” the knight muttered as he paced up and down the winding path, blowing on his hands to warm them. A few knights galloped past. Brisbois looked up for a moment, then turned away immediately when he didn’t see Maldrake. The knights merely nodded and continued down the path.
On their heels came another knight, who halted his steed beside the pacing man. Brisbois sighed inwardly, then gazed with irritation at the rider. It was Sir Lile Graybow, the castellan of the castle.
“Good morning, Sir Brisbois,” Graybow said affably, his gravelly voice cheerful and sincere. He was seated on a golden mare and bedecked in his finest armor.
“Good morning to you, Sir Graybow,” Brisbois said brusquely. When Graybow made no move to continue down the path, Brisbois was forced to add, out of deference, “And where are you off to this morning?”
“I’m visiting some of the villages of Penhaligon today,” Graybow said smoothly. After a pause, he continued, “I’m going to institute some of the peasantry tax relief measures Lord Maldrake and I devised.”
“Tax relief… measures?” Brisbois asked slowly. He and Maldrake hadn’t made any plans since the deal with the horses had fallen through.
“Yes,” Graybow said archly. “I was surprised you didn’t want to meet with us, Brisbois, but Lord Maldrake told me you no longer wanted to be a part of the committee. Of course, when we presented our plans to Baroness Arteris, we had to tell her of your decision. She was quite distressed. A shame, really.”
Brisbois put his gloved hands behind his back and clenched them. He smiled civilly. Collect yourself, Brisbois thought. Graybow could be trying to rile me for all I know. Maldrake’s in for quite a conversation, if he ever arrives. “Ah, thank you, Sir Graybow,” Brisbois said formally and gave a little bow. “You’ve been most… informative.” The castellan nodded and then moved his horse off at a trot.
Many long minutes passed before Maldrake came down the bridle path. His horse was cantering sideways in a highly stylized and controlled parade march. All Maldrake’s concentration seemed centered on making the horse take deliberate, measured steps. Brisbois was freshly irritated. He took off his gloves and slapped them into one hand. His friend had made this appointment seem urgent. Apparently equestrian practice was more important. Brisbois wouldn’t put up with such insults.
With a flourish, Lord Maldrake dismounted from his horse and bowed elaborately before the knight. “Brisbois!” he shouted with great affection. “Have you been waiting long?”
“Maldrake,” Brisbois growled. “You were supposed to be here an hour ago.”
“Oh, please, Brisbois,” Maldrake looked pained. “Isn’t there something else we can talk about?”
“Yes, there is,” retorted Brisbois. “We can discuss just exactly what you’re doing with Graybow, or we can discuss what happened to Yvaughan!”
“Oh, that,” Maldrake scowled. “Nothing more than she deserved.”
“Maldrake!” Brisbois shouted. “She’s your wife! Don’t you care about her?”
The young lord crossed his arms and looked both bored and annoyed at the same time. “Look, Brisbois, there’s something you should know. I was never in love with Yvaughan-not even in the beginning. Our feelings were all one-sided-hers. I only wanted to marry her because she was a Penhaligon and Arteris is far too icy for my tastes. Marrying Yvaughan was a good move for me, and I’m grateful for your discrediting her previous husband.”
“Maldrake-!”
The blond lord held up his hand. “As to Yvaughan’s deserving anything, the only thing she deserves is to be thrown from the highest tower!” Maldrake’s green eyes flashed, and his pale skin turned red. “That woman killed my son, Brisbois, and you want me to be worried about her? Those little scratches she gave herself are nothing! I wish she’d clawed out her jugular-”
Brisbois shook his friend. “Stop it, man! Can’t you see? Yvaughan’s innocent! She didn’t kill that pitiful being you called your son! And she didn’t wound herself. It’s that damned wizard who did both!”
Maldrake knocked away Brisbois’ hands. “Never touch me again!” he hissed through clenched teeth, his canines shining in the bright morning sun. Brisbois stepped back involuntarily.
“Maldrake…” he whispered.
The lord stabbed his finger against the knight’s chest. “I told you about Teryl Auroch. He didn’t kill my son or injure my wife. And even if you are right about his harming Yvaughan, he did it to please me. He succeeded-” Maldrake’s eyes flashed “-where you failed.”
Brisbois stared unblinking at his friend. He had always tried to do his best for Maldrake; how could he be faulted for trying? Brisbois held out his hands. “All right, Maldrake,” he said in a subdued voice. “Whatever you wish. You asked to see me. What did you want?”
Maldrake smiled. It was a thin, reptilian smile, and it chilled Brisbois. “Flinn is on his way to the castle.”
“When?” Brisbois felt fear trickle into his heart. He had done more than enough to earn Flinn’s wrath.
“Soon,” answered Maldrake. “In the next few days.”
“What are you going to do?” Brisbois asked.
“What am I going to do, Sir Brisbois?” Maldrake responded coyly, then shook his head. “You have it all wrong, my friend. All wrong, indeed.” He put his arm around Brisbois’ shoulder. The knight stiffened and Maldrake shook him, smiling all the while. “Relax, Brisbois, relax.” They began walking toward the stables, the trampled snow crunching beneath their boots.
“What do you have planned?” Brisbois insisted, knots forming in the muscles across his shoulders and back.
Maldrake laughed and looked at Brisbois. “Listen, and I’ll tell you.” He shook his head, his green eyes wide. “The best part is, neither you nor I will have to do a thing.” Maldrake’s laughter filled the morning air.
Chapter XIII
The setting sun touched the top of the trees as Flinn and his friends overlooked the valley leading to Karleah Kunzay’s home. Snow blanketed the forest and the rugged hills beyond, and rays of fading sunlight sparkled off the unblemished white. The slopes of the valley were lined with pale aspens and dark green spruces. A few birds circled lazily in the air, and Flinn eyed them warily. Spies of Karleah’s, he thought. A blue jay cackled, its voice reminiscent of the old woman’s laugh. The warrior grimaced. So much for my plan to surprise the wizardess, he thought. We’ll have to enter the valley on her terms. He nudged Ariac into a slow walk, and the others fell in behind. Jo followed on her horse Carsig, and Braddoc and Dayin rode the dwarf’s long-legged ponies. Braddoc used a lead rein to tow Fernlover, who took up the rear carrying supplies.
Flinn frowned as they descended into the valley. No tracks appeared in the snow, which had fallen at least three days ago. Along the line of trees, a deer spooked suddenly, her eyes wide and unblinking. She flicked her tail, bounded across the open valley floor, and disappeared into the forest. Immediately after the doe’s passing, the snow closed over the tracks.
Flinn smiled grimly. He raised an eyebrow and wondered what other surprises Karleah’s valley held in store. “Keep your eyes open,” he said as Jo and Braddoc came to flank him.
“I don’t like the idea of calling on crazy Karleah,” Braddoc grumbled once again. He’d voiced his misgivings once or twice before on the trip, but to no avail. “Seems we’re just asking for trouble,” he added.
Flinn pulled Ariac to a halt and looked at the dwarf. “What do you expect me to do? I promised Dayin I’d
