night.'
He made her sit down, brewed her a pot of mint tea, and told her an edited version of what he'd learned. He left out the bargain he'd made with Olari, figuring quite correctly that she'd want to get involved.
Tears welled up when he said he was leaving Walaria.
'It isn't safe for either of us, he said. He dug into the heavy purse Olari had given him and pulled out a handful of gold coins. Here. This is for you.'
Nerisa struck them away. Coins scattered across the floor.
'I don't want money, she said. I can get money anytime.'
Safar gathered them up again. I'm not abandoning you, Nerisa, he said. This is just in case money. If I'm caught, or… there's some other emergency. If all goes well, you can go with me if you want.'
Nerisa grinned through her tears. You'd really take me with you? she cried.
'It won't be very safe, Safar warned her. There'll be a lot people after me.'
Nerisa threw her arms around him. I don't care, she said. Let them come. I know all kinds of tricks. They'll never catch us.'
Safar unstuck her, gently pushing her back into her seat amongst the pillows. You don't have to go all the way to Kyrania, he said. It's a pretty boring place for someone who grew up in Walaria.'
'Well, it won't be boring to me, Nerisa said, thinking that for all she cared Kyrania could be the dullest place in all Esmir. It didn't matter as long as she was near Safar.
Safar patted her hand. We'll see, he said. Once we're clear of Walaria we can talk about this again.'
'Anything you say, Safar, Nerisa said, dreamy.
Then she yawned and stretched. I'm so tired, she said. Can I sleep here for awhile? I've been ducking and hiding all day.'
Safar hesitated. They know to look for you here, he said.
Nerisa yawned again. That's okay, she said. Gundara will warn us if anybody comes.'
Safar started to say it was still too big a chance to take. Then heard her breathing deepen and looked over and saw that she'd fallen asleep. In repose she seemed even younger and more vulnerable. Her lashes were delicate fans on her soft cheeks. He could see the fine bones of her face and thought that someday she'd be a great beauty. If she lived long enough to reach womanhood. He didn't have the heart to awaken her. So he banked the coals in the brazier and pinched out the wicks in the oil lamps. He found an extra blanket and covered her. She sighed, clutching the blanket tight and murmuring his name. Safar found a comfortable place a few feet away. So much had happened he doubted he'd be able to do much more than rest. But he'd barely closed his eyes when sleep rose up to carry him away.
It was a dreamless sleep, although once he thought he heard the rustle of fabric and felt soft lips brush his.
The next thing he knew the door crashed open and four burly men rushed inside.
He rolled out of his blankets but before he could come to his feet the men were on him. They clubbed him down and pinned him to the floor.
Then a heavy boot crashed into his head and stars of pain flared. He lost consciousness for a moment, then he heard steel strike flint and he opened his eyes to see Kalasariz standing over him, an oil lamp in his hand.
'Acolyte Timura, the spymaster intoned, you are charged with conspiracy against the crown. What do you have to say for yourself?'
Safar was dazed by the beating. He tried to speak, but his tongue was thick and refused to work. Then he remembered Nerisa. His heart jumped and he turned his head to see where she was. But she was nowhere in sight. Relief flooded inthank the gods, somehow she'd managed to escape. Then another thought pierced the haze. Why hadn't Gundara warned him about Kalasariz approach?
The spymaster held a heavy purse over Safar's head. It was the purse of gold Olari had given him, minus the coins he'd shared out with Nerisa. Kalasariz shook the purse. What's this? he said. Then he opened it and spilled coins into his palm. This is a great deal of money for a poor student to have in his possession, he gloated.
Safar said nothing.
'Where did you get so much gold, Acolyte? the spymaster demanded. And what did you swear to do to earn it?'
Safar still said nothing. What was the point?
Kalasariz kicked him again. It will do you no good to hide in silence, Acolyte Timura, he said. Your fellow conspirators have already confessed.'
Safar regained enough wit to say, Then you don't need to hear from me, do you, My Lord?'
The reply won him another kick, this time in the ribs. They hauled him to his feet, gasping for breath.
But he still had presence of mind to look over at the brazier where he'd last seen the stone idol.
It was gone.
The only thing he could think was, Nerisa must have it.
Then Kalasariz roared, Take him away! The sight of this heretic offends me!'
And they dragged him out the door.
'Hsst! Someone's coming!'
A dim light appeared and Nerisa dropped to the ground. She hugged the stone as a dark figure shuffled out of a corridor and headed her way. She was on the top floor of the Universityno more than a hundred feet, Gundara had informed her, from Umurhan's library. The Favorite was a flea speck on her sleevehe'd told her about Safar's method of carrying him about and she'd adopted it.
The shuffling figure was an old priest. He mumbled to himself, cursing the cold stone on his bare feet and muttering deprecations against the devils who had conspired to hide his sandals. He was carrying a small oil lamp with a nearly burned out wick that gave off just enough light to make her nervous. She flattened herself as he walked right up to her, then veered to the side to fumble at a door. He broke wind loudly and Nerisa guessed the door led to a privy. The priest went inside and shut the door.
Nerisa came up like a cat and ghosted down the corridor until Gundara told her to stop because she'd found the library. It was locked, but that only delayed her for a few seconds. She fished a narrow bar from her pocket, slipped it into the keyhole and forced the big tumbler back. In an instant she was inside, quietly closing the door behind her.
The library was a sealed room and so dark she couldn't make out even the largest objects. But she could smell the dusty odor of old books, just like the ones at the Foolsmire, except there was heavy sulfur smell of magic that made her throat feel raw.
'I can't see, she whispered to Gundara.
There was a sudden glow and the Favorite appeared before her full sizewhich meant he came up to about her knee. His body gave off a dim green light and she could see the hulking shadows of furniture and book shelves.
Gundara made a slow circle, sniffing the air. In her pocket she felt the stone idol become warm as the Favorite drew on its magical power.
Then he said, This way, and scampered off into the darkness.
Nerisa followed and they moved along the twisting aisles until they came to the far side of the room where tall bookcases lined the blank wall. Gundara hopped from shelf to shelf until he was eye-level with Nerisa.
'There it is, he said, pointing a glowing talon. Asper in the flesh. Gundara snickered. The book's bound in leather, he said. Get itflesh! Ha ha. I'm pretty funny tonight.'
'It must be the sugar, Nerisa said through gritted teeth.
At first she'd thought the Favorite was a cute little thing. She felt sorry for him because he had to live in a hunk of stone. But after several hours in Gundara's company she just wanted to get the job over with and hand him back to Safar. Honestly, he asked such personal questions. Statements, actually. Like accusing her of being in love with Safar. Which was true, but it was none of his fiendish business.
Gundara gripped the edge of a slender book and heaved mightily. It came out so fast he lost his balance. He squealed as he fell, scaring Nerisa half to death. She caught him in midair, but the book slammed to the floor, echoing loudly.
