The Hallowed Hunt

rode dangerously close to that line myself, once. It is my belief, after the debacle that left your father dead and you... well, as you are, Cumril was taken by his demon. Whether despair made him weak, whether he was overmatched from the first, I can’t now guess, but I believe in my heart that the writing of that confession was Cumril’s last act. And the burning of it, the demon’s first.'

Ingrey opened his mouth, then closed it. In his mind, he had always cast Cumril in the part of betrayer; it was uncomfortable to consider that the young sorcerer, too, might have been in some strange sense betrayed.

'So you see,' said Lewko softly, 'Cumril’s fate concerns me. More, it nags me. I fear I cannot encounter you without being reminded of it.'

'Did the Temple ever find out if he was alive or dead?'

'No. There was a report of an illicit sorcerer in the Cantons some five years ago that might have been him, but all trace was lost thereafter.'

Ingrey’s lips started to shape the word Who... but he changed it: 'What are you?'

Lewko’s hand opened. 'Just a simple Temple overseer, now.'

Of what? Of all the Temple sorcerers of the Weald, perhaps? Just seemed scarcely the word for it, nor did simple. This man could be very dangerous to me, Ingrey reminded himself. He knows too much already.

And he was about to learn more, unfortunately, for he glanced down at the paper and asked Ingrey to describe the events at Red Dike. No great surprise; Ingrey had certainly guessed those at least would be in the letter.

Ingrey did so, honestly and completely, but in as few words as he could coherently muster. Disaster was in the details, every spare sentence skirting a morass of more questions. But his stiff little speech seemed to satisfy the divine, or at least, questions about the restraint of Ingrey’s wolf did not immediately arise.

'Who do you think placed this murderous compulsion, this strange scarlet geas, upon you, Lord Ingrey?'

'I very much wish to know.'

'Well, that makes two of us.'

'I am glad of that,' said Ingrey, and was surprised to realize it was true.

Then Lewko asked, 'What do you think of this Lady Ijada?'

Ingrey swallowed, his mind seeming to spiral down like a bird shot out of the air. He asked me what I think about her, not what I feel about her, he reminded himself firmly. 'She undoubtedly bashed Boleso’s head in. He undoubtedly deserved it.'

A silence seemed to stretch from this succinct obituary. Did Lewko, too, understand the uses of silences? 'My lord Hetwar did not desire all these posthumous scandals,' Ingrey added. 'I think he has even less than your relish for complications.'

More silence. 'She sustains the leopard spirit. It is... lovely in her.' Five gods, I must say something to protect her. 'I think she is more god-touched than she knows.'

That won a response. Lewko sat up, his eyes suddenly cooler and more intent. 'How do you know?'

Ingrey’s chin rose at the hint of challenge. 'The same way I know that you are, Blessed One. I feel it in my blood.'

The jolt between them then made Ingrey certain he’d overstepped. But Lewko eased back in his chair, deliberately tenting his hands. 'Truly?'

'I am not a complete fool, Learned.'

'I do not think you are a fool at all, Lord Ingrey.' Lewko tapped his fingers on the letter, looked away for a moment, then looked back. 'Yes. I shall obey my Hallana’s marching orders and examine this young woman, I think. Where is she being held?'

'More housed than held, so far.' Ingrey gave directions to the slim house in the merchants’ quarter.

'When is she to be bound over to stand her indictment?'

'I would guess not till after Boleso’s funeral, since it is so near. I’ll know more once I speak with Sealmaster Hetwar. Where I am obliged by my duty to go next,' Ingrey added by way of a broad hint. Yes—he needed to escape this room before Lewko’s questions grew even more probing. He stood up.

'I shall try to come tomorrow,' said Lewko, yielding to this move.

Ingrey managed a polite, 'Thank you. I shall look for you then,' a bow, and his removal from the room without, he trusted, looking as though he were running like a rabbit.

He closed the door behind himself and blew out his breath in unease. Was this Lewko potential help or potential harm? He remembered Wencel’s parting words to him: If you value your life, keep your secrets and mine. Had that been a threat, or a warning?

He had at least managed to keep all mention of Horseriver from this first interview. There could be no hint of Wencel in the letter; his cousin had not impinged on Ingrey’s life until after Hallana had been left behind, thankfully. But what about tomorrow? What about half an hour from now, when he stood in his road dirt before Hetwar to report his journey and its incidents?

Horseriver. Hallana. Gesca. Now Lewko. Hetwar. Ingrey was starting to lose track of what all he had not said to whom.

He found the correct direction and began to retrace his steps back to the shortcut through the temple, keeping the cadence of his footfalls deliberate.

It struck him only then that in delivering Hallana’s letter to Lewko, he had also, without any need for spell or geas, delivered up himself.

CHAPTER ELEVEN

AS INGREY MADE HIS WAY UP THE CORRIDOR TOWARD THE side entrance of the temple court, a cry of dismay echoed along the walls. His steps quickened in curiosity, then alarm, as the cry was succeeded by a scream. Frightened shouts erupted. His hand gripped the hilt of his sword as he burst into the central area, his head swiveling in search of the source of the uproar.

A bizarre melee was pouring out of the archway to the Father’s court. Foremost was the great ice bear. Clamped in its jaws was the foot of the deceased man, an aged fellow dressed in clothes befitting a wealthy merchant, the stiff corpse bouncing along like some huge doll as the bear growled and shook its head. At the end of the silver chain hooked to the bear’s collar, the groom-acolyte swung in a wide and stumbling arc. Some of the braver or more distraught mourners pelted after, shouting advice and demands.

His voice nearly squeaking, the panicked groom advanced on the bear, yanking the chain, then grabbing for the corpse’s arm and pulling. The bear half rose, and one heavy paw lashed out; the groom staggered back, screaming in earnest now, clutching his side from which red drops spattered.

Ingrey drew his blade and ran forward, skidding to a stop before the maddened beast. From the corner of his eye he could see Prince Jokol, grasped in a restraining hug from behind by his companion, struggling toward him. 'No, no, no!' cried the red-haired man in a voice of anguish. 'Fafa only thought they were offering him a meal! Don’t, don’t hurt him!'

By him, Ingrey realized, blinking, Jokol meant the bear...

The bear dropped its prize and rose up. And up. And up... Ingrey’s head tilted back, his eyes widening at the snarling jaws, the massive shoulders, the huge, outspreading paws with their wicked ivory-tipped claws, looming high over his head...

Everything around him slowed, and Ingrey’s perceptions came alight, in the black exultation of his wolf