the Rat Dragon? I held up my candle. At the very end of the room, something reflected my light. A few more strides and I was in front of a wooden case topped with a flat piece of glass the size of an open scroll. How much had such a precious thing cost?
But all wonder at the workmanship was gone when I leaned over and saw two small leather folios about the size of my hand — one red and bound by a string of black pearls, the other black and bound by white pearls.
'It's here!' A surge of exhilaration and relief caught me in the chest.
Ryko was beside me in a moment.
'Is that glass?' He tapped the top. 'Beautiful!' Then he saw what was inside. 'Two folios?
What's the other one?'
I studied the case. There were two hinges on the back — it would open like a box. 'Here, hold my candle,' I said, passing it to him.
Gingerly, I hooked my fingers under the lip of the glass and lifted. It opened easily and rested back on the sturdy hinges.
Ryko moved the candles closer. 'Look, the black one has the same design on it as the door.'
Although half hidden under the wrap of white pearls, the leather had been tooled with the circle of twelve spheres.
The red folio had no design on the front, but three deep gouges marked the smooth leather as though someone had tried to slice through the tight binding of black pearls. Had Lord Ido been unable to open it?
I reached for the folio.
It suddenly heaved. Before I could snatch back my hand, the string of black pearls had unravelled and snaked up my hand, wrapping itself tightly around my wrist. I yelped, pulling my hand and the folio out of the case. The taste of metal flooded my mouth as a familiar rage scoured my body. The same rage I had felt in my swords.
Ryko dropped the candles and lunged towards me. 'I'll pull it off!'
'No,' I snarled. The last loop of pearls had bound the folio against my palm. I pulled the text up to my chest, protecting it from Ryko. The rage receded just as quickly as it had risen, leaving a quiet sense of completeness.
'No, it's all right,' I said, cradling the folio against my body. 'It's all right.'
Ryko eyed me uncertainly. 'If you say so.' He looked down at the black folio. 'Will the same thing happen with the other one?'
'I will not touch it!' I snapped, the rage surging again.
Ryko stepped back. Are you sure you are all right?'
I massaged my forehead, trying to dislodge the anger. 'We should go.' I wanted to get as far away from the black folio as possible. I did not understand it, but the feeling was as strong and as sharp as a nail through my hand.
'You don't want to take the black folio?'
'No!' I took a shaking breath, forcing some calm. 'No. If Lord Ido owns it, he will be able to mount an official investigation if it is stolen.'
I gently pushed at the red folio, directing it up my forearm under my sleeve. There was no resistance; the pearls unravelling slightly to allow the move then tightening again.
Ryko bent and picked up the snuffed candles. 'I'll light them in the lamp,' he said.
'No, I'll do it,' I said quickly 'You close the case. I don't want to touch it again.' Taking the candles, I crossed quickly to the side bench.
The pouch full of the Sun drug lay beside the lamp. I sneaked a look over my shoulder. Ryko was staring down at the black folio, absorbed. Using my body as cover, I scooped up the pouch and shoved it into the deep pocket of my tunic. Then I quickly lit the candles in the flame of the oil lamp.
Just as I turned, Ryko let out a bellow and jumped back from the case, rubbing his hand. He looked across at me, his face a strange mix of guilt and shock. 'I tried to pick up the black one, but the pearls whipped me,' he said. Edging a step closer to the case, he eased the lid down at arm's length.
'We've got to go. Now,' I said urgently
I blew out the lamp. Once more the room became a dark, shadowy otherworld flickering with the light of the two candles. I moved to the door, away from the gap on the bench where the pouch had lain. Ryko met me at the end of the reading table and took a candle.
'How are we going to get out?' I asked.
'The guards should have cleared the area by now. If I get hit with the same illusion, then you're going to have to help me get through it,' Ryko said, touching his stomach. 'Once we are free of that, we'll make our way back to the side gate.'
I followed him into the narrow corridor. Turning, 1 held up my candle and took one last look at Lord Ido's library. Although the case was hidden in the dark shadows, it seemed to throb with soured power. I quickly closed the twelve-sphere door.
Ahead, Ryko extinguished his candle then opened the outside door a crack.
'It looks clear,' he said.
For a moment, intuition held me still. I brushed my fingers over the folio resting beneath my sleeve. 'You should hold on to me,' I said. 'Until we get past the dragon power.'
Ryko nodded and took my candle, pinching out the flame. A rustle of cloth told me he was storing both candles back in his waist pouch.
'Ready?' I asked.
His hand grasped my arm. 'Ready'
I opened the door, the movement bumping the broken padlock against the metal in a soft clang. The garden was quiet, the shapes of the trees and flowerbeds edged in silver from the half moon. I stepped out into the shadow of the hill, feeling the drag of Ryko as he followed.
The pearls around my wrist stirred, and for a moment I saw the Rat Dragon's power over the hill, like a thin dome of glass, stretching down the path and ending at a stand of blossom trees.
I steered us slowly towards them. Ryko met my gaze and nodded; all was well. So far. We passed the spot where he had first fallen. Not too far now. Then I felt Ryko's grip loosen and, before I could protest, he released me. I saw his eyes widen with pain, then he doubled over and dropped heavily to his knees, breath ragged. I lunged for him, digging my fingers into the hard muscle of his arm. The tension suddenly left his body He grabbed my hand, clinging to it like a drowning man, and gulped in deep breaths.
'Not quite clear yet,' I said unnecessarily
He looked up at me then bowed his head. 'My lord.' His voice was soft with awe.
'Ryko, get up.' I pulled at his arm. 'We are not safe out here.'
1t was only a few more lengths to the trees. Holding my hand t ightly, Ryko pushed himself up onto his feet. I led him off the path into the thin cover.
'It will be all right now,' I whispered.
Hesitantly, he pulled his hand from mine. We both paused, but he was clearly in no pain.
'I am in your debt, my lord,' he murmured, bowing.
I shook my head. 'No, it's —'
A crunch of leaves made us both spin around. A guard stood behind us, caught mid-retreat.
Although he wore a wide-brimmed helmet, I recognised the blunt mean features and solid body.
Ranne.
His eyes widened. 'You!'
He'd recognised me.
Beside me, Ryko tensed with the same realisation. It was Ranne's death warrant. In a blur of speed, Ryko drew both knives, the steels crossing over each other in a rasp of steel. As Ranne opened his mouth to raise the alarm, a knife hit him in the throat, sinking up to its hilt. His shout became a wet gurgle as he clutched at the blade. Ryko sprang forwards, thrusting its twin up under Ranne's armour into his abdomen. I heard the puncture of air and the clicking rattle of his death breath as Ryko eased his body to the ground.
I gaped at them: the living crouched over the dead. I had seen death before — Dolana and others at the salt farm — but they had been worn down by misery and illness into a welcome release. This was a snatching away of life; one moment there was Hua, there was will, there was Ranne, and then there was not.
