only gloves, after all. The hands themselves were not black-not that she knew of. He suffered from some sort of deformity; that's what he had told her. She let her mind wander over the possibilities: festering boils, skin like a snake's, a missing digit or two, or the reverse-a skinny extra finger tucked alongside its sturdy brother, like a withered worm. Or a third eye, perhaps, rooted on the tip of his thumb. Whatever Donskoy's deformity was, it did not cripple him; his hands remained strong, his grip hard and firm-like a vise, when he wanted it so.
Marguerite looked down and saw that her own hands had become black from handling the book. She shivered. Carefully she rewrapped the tome in its black cloth and returned it to her cabinet. Then she washed the ash from her hands, relieved to see her own clean skin once again.
Her weariness came back to her, now twice as intense as before. It had been a full day, she mused, full of exploration and of being explored. She removed the dressing gown and, with her last bit of strength, crawled through the bed curtains to curl her body into the pit of the mattress,
She slept for hours. As a cloud of bats wheeled in the sky outside the castle, Marguerite dreamed once more of the dark-haired gypsy, who rose from the black water and parted the rock and stepped out into the green-black sea of trees. Marguerite followed behind her, watching as the Vistana slipped in and out of view, and then disappeared. In a moonlit clearing, Marguerite found her again. The gypsy was dancing, moving slowly, naked but for the myriad snakes that hung from her arms like black scarves.
And then the dream ended. Marguerite shifted in the pit of her bed and slept on, slumbering as the sun climbed from its nightly grave; she slept as it rose high overhead and merged with the cold gray haze that covered Donskoy's land.
*****
When Marguerite awoke, Yelena was stoking the hearth. A breakfast tray lay on the table nearby. The mute girl turned and headed for the door.
'Wait.' Marguerite slipped out from between the walls of her velvet tent. 'I want to speak to you.'
Yeiena paused and turned her head, gazing at Marguerite wearily from beneath the little brown cap she always wore. The girl's face was a puffy palette of pale gray-and-purpie shadows, and her lips had fused in a frown.
'It seems I should thank you again,' said Marguerite, 'for not giving me away.'
Yeiena's lips parted slightly, releasing a deep sigh.
'I am very grateful.' Marguerite added boldly, 'Don't you want to know how I got out?'
The mute rolled her eyes, then shot a glance toward the tapestry.
She knows then, thought Marguerite. 'Well, as I said, I am very grateful. And you can rest assured that I won't cause this trouble for you again.'
At this, Yelena gave a sharp squeak-a laugh, perhaps, but completely lacking in mirth. The servant curtsied and jerked her head toward the door.
'Of course,' said Marguerite. 'You may go. I only wanted to thank you.'
The mute girl curtsied again and departed. Marguerite slipped out of bed, padding after her. She tried the handle on the door and to her relief, found it unlocked. After washing at the basin, she went to the hearth to inspect the breakfast tray. It held a slab of cold meat, faintly green along one edge; the usual piece of bread; and a ewer of cold wine. She sniffed the wine and wrinkled her nose. Despite the heavy dose of cloves, she could tell it was horribly sour; some of Donskoy's barrels must be going bad. Or else Yelena was making a statement. Then Marguerite noticed something else on the tray: a small piece of parchment, folded in half. She opened itt and discovered a note from Lord Donskoy.
My wife, it read. / trust you slept well. You must content yourself with reading this morning. In the afternoon, come to my salon. -D.
Marguerite fed the parchment to the fire and stretched. At least the rest of the morning was hers. And the door was open. Given this streak of fortune, she had no intention of languishing in her room with a book. Instead, she planned to visit the stables, where she could examine the cart she had seen returning last night. It would probably be unloaded by now, but certainly Ljubo would tell her about the travelers in the mists. She smiled thinly, recalling her last furtive conversation with the man. Yes, Ljubo would talk. Ljubo, after all, was her friend.
Dressed in high boots and a simple woolen shift betted low round her hips, Marguerite emerged in the court. It had not been easy to find her way alone, and she had come to several dead ends amid the castle's jumbled and rotting storerooms; finally she had closed her eyes and followed her memory like a dream. Mow she stepped out toward the stables, crossing the flagstones that were slick with mud and dung. She looked for Ljubo or Ekhart but saw only the other animals. The black gaggle of geese moved through the court like a raucous cloud. The goat bleated from its tether, and the peacock continued its walk around the perimeter like a sullen guard. Five dark horse tails and one that was dirty white hung over the stable walls, all in a row.
The wagon had been parked in an open stall. Marguerite picked her way across the court and peered inside. The wagon bed itself was bare to the rough boards. On the ground nearby, however, lay the black tarp, draped over a jumbled mound. She lifted the edge, discovering a barrel labeled «sugar» and a few unmarked crates- She probed a little further, unveiling a long black chest. It resembled the crate that had accompanied her from Darkon. Marguerite knelt before it, fingering the clasp.
'Looking for something'?'
Marguerite jumped, falling backward onto her seat. It was Ekhart, looming behind her, shovel in hand.
'No, I-,' she stammered. 'Well, yes, actually.'
Marguerite brushed herself off and stood to face him. They stared at one another, her own eyes liquid and challenging, his gray and frozen.
Ekhart said sourly, 'And that would be …?'
'It is none of your business,' retorted Marguerite huffily. 'I am the lady of this castle now, and you shall address me as such.'
Ekhart stretched his thin lips into an even wider line, which for him counted as a smile. 'All right then. Lady Marguerite,' he mocked. 'Is there some way that I might assist you?'
'No, Ekhart. Thank you,' she said stiffly. 'I was
looking for Ljubo.'‹
'Indeed. And what would you require of my manservant?'
'Your rnan-servant?'
'He answers to me.'
'I thought he might tell something about your excursion yesterday.'
'Did you? Why don't you ask me instead?'
'Ail right, Ekhart. I wanted to know what became of the travelers.'
'Travelers?'
'Yes. The people lost in the fog. I heard them calling out myself, so spare me any denial.'
Ekhart rubbed his chin and chortled. 'No. I would not even attempt it. What is it, precisely, that you would know?'
'Just as I said. What happened to the travelers?'
'We were unable to locate them in time.'
'You mean they are dead?'
'Yes.'
'How?' Marguerite's voice was quiet.
'The mists hold many dangers,' Ekhart replied matter-of-f act! y.
'But what kind of dangers? Surely you must have some idea what occurred.'
'Animals. Predators. It's difficult to say. Not much evidence remained, if you can grasp my meaning. Or shall I paint you a more detailed picture?'
'No, thank you,' she replied. She waved a hand toward the crates. 'And these things,' she added. 'You took them.'
'Of course,' said Ekhart. 'The dead have no need of such possessions where they are bound. Why should we not benefit? Don't pretend you are shocked, milady. Half the gowns you wear were obtained in this fashion.' He tapped the shovel against the dirt floor and stared at her, one white brow raised. 'Will that be all then, Marguerite?'
'Yes, Ekhart. Thank you. You may go.'
