“A loss of a single day, when measured against the months I’ve tracked you, is reasonable. However, if your lead proves false, we must turn north and make all haste toward the subterranean entrance that will take us back to Deep Imaskar.”
“Of course.” Well, she silently appended, it could take two or three days to locate the access point. But short of killing her (which she now knew was not the vengeance taker’s goal), he would not be able to force her north until she was satisfied that no access portals survived in Durpar.
Iahn started for the surface. He called over his shoulder, “Even if your fascination for our ancestors’ lore blinds you to Deep Imaskar’s plight, your sister’s continued well-being must concern you. What threatens to breach the Great Seal threatens her equally.”
The wizard stood with her mouth agape. What a thing to say!
“What do you know of my sister?” Ususi yelled at Iahn’s retreating back, her fists clenched.
He paused, but didn’t turn. “I was commanded to find you. Do you think I would leave any stone unturned in that search?”
“Did you talk to her? Did you harm her?” Even as she asked, Ususi knew the answers to her questions were negative. Qari’s condition prevented speech, and Ususi would have known if her sister had been harmed, just as her sister would know if harm befell Ususi.
Iahn stopped and turned. His face, if expression were possible for a vengeance taker, seemed slightly rueful. “Of course I didn’t harm her. I merely sought her out to see if she could help me find you. Unfortunately, she wouldn’t speak to me. I apologize. I didn’t realize it was a sensitive topic.”
In a small voice, Ususi said, “She doesn’t speak to anyone. Not even to me anymore.” Her sister Qari, congenitally blind, had never spoken aloud. But Qari and Ususi had spoken to each other when they were children, mind to mind. As they grew older, that ability had dimmed and eventually failed. They still shared a dream at times, or at least they had while Ususi remained in Deep Imaskar, but even that had stopped since Ususi had moved beyond the Great Seal. Unless her dream of darkness was somehow connected to the darkness Iahn claimed had Deep Imaskar under siege …
“How did you find her?” Ususi demanded of the vengeance taker.
“The lord apprehender told me where she was.”
Ususi clenched her fist. Another promise broken. Qari’s condition required special care and solitude. Ususi had acquired both for her sister, paying a steep price for discretion above all else. The lord apprehender’s knowledge of secrets held and disclosed in the Hidden City was deep. And apparently, not beyond betrayal.
The travel coach was not wrecked, but the disarray of its contents pained Ususi. As soon as she and Iahn returned, she and her silent uskura set about tidying the clutter. The vengeance taker avoided impatience with steely resolve, but finally murmured something about retrieving his crossbow bolts and searching the bodies for additional clues.
As she cleaned up, Ususi considered the odd assortment of creatures following her. Who had sent them? How had they known about her? Iahn postulated the darkness threatening Deep Imaskar had made enough inroads to discover that he had been sent to look for her, because of her specialized knowledge concerning the Celestial Nadir. If so, perhaps this mysterious force had decided to look for her, too, in hopes of finding her first.
Through the broken coach door, Ususi observed Iahn’s return. He sat down outside the coach and began to fit sturdy bolts into the underside of a custom crossbow. She studied him a moment. This man had spoken to Qari. He was an unexpected link to her past.
Ususi stepped out. “Uncover anything else?”
The vengeance taker shrugged and pointed to a few pouches, packs, skins for water, and other oddments typical of travelers.
The wizard pressed him. “Nothing about their identity, who
“Of course.” Well, she silently appended, it could take two or three days to locate the access point. But short of killing her (which she now knew was not the vengeance taker’s goal), he would not be able to force her north until she was satisfied that no access portals survived in Durpar.
Iahn started for the surface. He called over his shoulder, “Even if your fascination for our ancestors’ lore blinds you to Deep Imaskar’s plight, your sister’s continued well-being must concern you. What threatens to breach the Great Seal threatens her equally.”
The wizard stood with her mouth agape. What a thing to say!
“What do you know of my sister?” Ususi yelled at Iahn’s retreating back, her fists clenched.
He paused, but didn’t turn. “I was commanded to find you. Do you think I would leave any stone unturned in that search?”
“Did you talk to her? Did you harm her?” Even as she asked, Ususi knew the answers to her questions were negative. Qari’s condition prevented speech, and Ususi would have known if her sister had been harmed, just as her sister would know if harm befell Ususi.
Iahn stopped and turned. His face, if expression were possible for a vengeance taker, seemed slightly rueful. “Of course I didn’t harm her. I merely sought her out to see if she could help me find you. Unfortunately, she wouldn’t speak to me. I apologize. I didn’t realize it was a sensitive topic.”
In a small voice, Ususi said, “She doesn’t speak to anyone. Not even to me anymore.” Her sister Qari, congenitally blind, had never spoken aloud. But Qari and Ususi had spoken to each other when they were children, mind to mind. As they grew older, that ability had dimmed and eventually failed. They still shared a dream at times, or at least they had while Ususi remained in Deep Imaskar, but even that had stopped since Ususi had moved beyond the Great Seal. Unless her dream of darkness was somehow connected to the darkness Iahn claimed had Deep Imaskar under siege …
“How did you find her?” Ususi demanded of the vengeance taker.
“The lord apprehender told me where she was.”
Ususi clenched her fist. Another promise broken. Qari’s condition required special care and solitude. Ususi had acquired both for her sister, paying a steep price for discretion above all else. The lord apprehender’s knowledge of secrets held and disclosed in the Hidden City was deep. And apparently, not beyond betrayal.
The travel coach was not wrecked, but the disarray of its contents pained Ususi. As soon as she and Iahn returned, she and her silent uskura set about tidying the clutter. The vengeance taker avoided impatience with steely resolve, but finally murmured something about retrieving his crossbow bolts and searching the bodies for additional clues.
As she cleaned up, Ususi considered the odd assortment of creatures following her. Who had sent them? How had they known about her? Iahn postulated the darkness threatening Deep Imaskar had made enough inroads to discover that he had been sent to look for her, because of her specialized knowledge concerning the Celestial Nadir. If so, perhaps this mysterious force had decided to look for her, too, in hopes of finding her first.
Through the broken coach door, Ususi observed Iahn’s return. He sat down outside the coach and began to fit sturdy bolts into the underside of a custom crossbow. She studied him a moment. This man had spoken to Qari. He was an unexpected link to her past.
Ususi stepped out. “Uncover anything else?”
The vengeance taker shrugged and pointed to a few pouches, packs, skins for water, and other oddments typical of travelers.
The wizard pressed him. “Nothing about their identity, who
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