'Vaerana, before you go, we should talk.' Ruha could hardly explain why in front of Tombor, but the last thing she wanted was for Vaerana to leave Moonstorm House.
'I should tell you of some other things I learned in the Ginger Palace.'
'Then talk.' Vaerana continued to help Tombor unload.
'I don't have all night.'
Ruha forced herself not to look in Tombor's direction.
'First, Cypress is back.'
Vaerana's jaw fell, and she let a sack of blossoms slip from her grasp.
'I saw him in the spicehouse,' Ruha explained. 'He was smaller than the first time I saw him. He could not speak or use his magic, but it was definitely Cypress. By kidnapping his cult members, you may be drawing his attention to you.'
Vaerana turned back to the pack train. 'Better to face him in Elversult than in his lair.' There was not much conviction in her voice. 'What else?'
'Cypress is not stealing Yanseldara's spirit so his cult can control Elversult.' Ruha was frantically trying to think of something that would keep the Lady Constable inside Moonstorm House without arousing Tombor's suspicions. 'The dragon wants her spirit for himself.'
'For himself?' Vaerana echoed.
Ruha nodded. 'I think Cypress is in love with Yanseldara, or believes he is.'
Tombor raised his brow. 'You seem to have learned quite a lot during your visit!'
Behind her veil, Ruha bit her lip and wondered if she had said too much. Her mind was as weary as her body, and she found it difficult to be subtle when her thoughts were so sluggish.
'I overheard a conversation between the prince and the dragon.' Then, doing her best to sound indignant,
Ruha said, 'I am not entirely inept.'
'No one said you were-er, at least not lately.' Vaerana motioned Fowler over to hold the wounded packhorse.
'But Cypress doesn't have any reason to love Yanseldara. She's the one that killed him!'
'You don't know much about men, do you Lady Constable?' Fowler gave her a roguish, yellow-fanged grin.
'There's a fine half-elf tavern wench over in Saerloon who slams an ale tankard against my head every time I see her, and I keep coming back for more. What's that tell you?'
'That you let your orcish blood get the best of you.'
Vaerana growled. 'You ought to know when to quit.'
Fowler shrugged, trying not to look hurt. 'Maybe, but what I'm saying is that I don't quit. I keep wanting what will never be mine. Seems like that's what Cypress is doing. Yanseldara killed him-maybe Sharee'll kill me with that tankard someday-and now he's trying to steal her, just as he stole all that treasure that belonged to someone else. He wants what he can't have. It's part of being male.'
Vaerana pulled the last of the ylang blossoms off the wounded horse. 'Fair enough. Let's say I don't under- stand men-not that I'd want to-what does it matter?'
The Lady Constable dropped the sack on the ground. 'It doesn't change anything I've got to do tonight.'
Vaerana turned to walk toward one of the towers, and Ruha, desperate to keep her from leaving, caught her by the arm.
The Lady Constable frowned at the witch's hand.
'What now?'
'Do you have an oil press?' Ruha asked.
'In the kitchens,' Tombor answered. 'Why?'
The witch hesitated. She had already baited the trap, and she worried that in her exhaustion, she would explain too much and alert Tombor to her trap. On the other hand, if she did not explain, Vaerana would not stay to see the traitor take the bait.
'The members of the Cult of the Dragon are not the only ones who need the ylang oil. After we recover the staff, we must pour the ylang oil over Yanseldara to draw her spirit back into her body.' Ruha continued to hold
Vaerana's arm. 'But if the oil is poured over a vessel containing the spirits of both Yanseldara and Cypress, the two will be joined together forever. That is why I believe the dragon is in love with Yanseldara.'
'And how did you learn so much about the uses of ylang oil?' Tombor asked.
'I am a witch,' Ruha replied, trying to dodge the ques- tion with a cryptic reply. 'So is Lady Feng.'
In fact, Minister Hsieh had explained how to use the ylang oil. He had also provided Ruha with another Shou potion, one with which she was to send a message through Yanseldara to Lady Feng.
Vaerana studied Ruha for several moments, then asked, 'So, you're saying we need to press the oil our- selves-and be damned sure the cult doesn't steal it back?'
'Yes.' Actually, this was only what Ruha wanted Tom- bor to believe. The blossoms in the sacks were the old, unsuitable ones; the fresh ylang was still in the Ginger
Palace, being pressed in the spicehouse refinery. 'That is what I'm saying.'
'Fine.' Vaerana looked to Tombor. 'See to it that the blossoms are pressed and well guarded.'
If there had been any lingering doubts in Ruha's mind that Tombor was the spy, they vanished when she saw the delighted twinkle in his eye. 'The oil will be ready when you get back.'
Vaerana turned back to Ruha. 'If you're satisfied, now.
I've got to go.'
With that, Vaerana pulled her arm out of Ruha's grasp and started across the courtyard. The witch stared after her in bewilderment, then scurried to catch up.
'Wait, Vaerana! There is one more thing.'
The Lady Constable stopped beneath the dark branches of a fragrant sweetbay tree. 'What is it?'
Before the witch could explain, Tombor called, 'There's no need to delay Vaerana. If you need something, I'm sure I can help.'
Ruha glanced over her shoulder and saw Tombor com- ing after them, his jolly face bent into a mask of solicitous concern. The witch cursed under her breath and turned her back on him.
'Before you leave, you must visit me in my chamber.' she whispered to Vaerana, 'alone!'
Vaerana shook her head. 'I don't have time-'
Ruha took her arm again. 'You must! Promise me.'
Vaerana glanced down at the witch's hand. 'Then will you let me go?'
Ruha nodded and removed her hand. 'It is important.'
'If you say so.' Vaerana looked past Ruha's shoulder to Tombor, who was already upon them. 'Lodge the witch in Pearl Tower.'
'Pearl Tower?' Tombor echoed, clearly surprised.
'Pearl Tower.' Vaerana turned to leave. 'Are you hav- ing trouble with your ears?'
The cleric took Ruha's arm, gripping it more tightly than was necessary. 'I'll show you to a chamber as soon as we've seen to the blossoms.'
'Perhaps we could go to the tower first,' Ruha sug- gested, worried she would not be there when Vaerana came to see her. 'I have not slept in two days.'
Tombor shook his head. 'You said yourself we can't let these blossoms fall into the hands of the Cult of the Dragon. Besides, the kitchen is on the way to Pearl Tower. It'll take only a few minutes to stop and set up the press.'
Ruha accompanied the cleric back to the horses. She removed a small satchel of supplies from her saddle, then helped Fowler and Tombor gather up the bulky sacks of ylang blossoms. Leaving the beasts with a guard, they walked down a chain of meandering pathways to a thatch-roofed shed against the back wall of the fortress.
The place smelled of animal grease, smoke, and fresh Heartland spices.
Tombor stopped at the entrance and banged on the wooden door. 'Up with you, Silavia! I've business in your kitchen!'
'The cook bars the door when she sleeps,' explained Fowler. 'Otherwise, the night guards pilfer her breakfast
