failing to protect himself. The elf probably had been hoping Kandler would attack him, giving the guards an excuse to chop him to pieces. With Kandler dead, that would make his claim as Espre’s father all the stronger.
Kandler wondered why the elf hadn't just killed him straight out. He supposed that Ledenstrae’s influence here in Aerie might not be enough to cover up a cold-blooded murder. If so, then getting out of here with Espre wasn’t as hopeless a cause at it had seemed.
'Why now?” Kandler asked, suspicious. "What made you come searching for Espre now? What are the chances that you’d end up waiting for us here, right in our path?” The elf nodded sagely. "These are all fine questions. To answer: Now seemed like the right time. Certain information came to me that Espre was, in fact, alive and well, and I set out to find her. As for how I managed to track you down, I’ll admit I had a bit of help with that. An old friend of the family contacted me after running into you recently and alerted me to Espre’s plight. Fortunately, we have a great deal of influence in Shae Cairdal, and I was able to arrange for transport here immediately.”
Kandler stared at the elf. Who could have tipped Ledenstrae off to their whereabouts? The Lord of Blades or his lieutenant Bastard? Vol? Ikar the Black? The Captain of Bones?
Even if any of them had, how would Ledenstrae have known that they were headed here? Kandler hadn’t made the decision to head south until after they’d survived the battle with Nithkorrh and Ibrido.
There could only be one person.
"That changeling bitch,” he said. "She sold us out to you. She went from one mistress to another.”
Ledenstrae grinned, pulled back his thin, pale lips to reveal sharp, white teeth. "I’m sure I don’t know who you’re talking about,” he said. "You must feel surrounded by traitors on all sides. Perhaps your lady knight there betrayed you so she could serve her own cause?”
Kandler glanced at Sallah, who stood scowling at the elf.
When she noticed the justicar watching her, she snorted in disgust. "Could you really think such a thing of me?”
The elf giggled. "Perhaps it was your shifter friend there instead. How well do you really know him anyhow? He’s barely more than a wild beast, is he not?” He gave Burch a cold look. "I’ve heard of curs turning on their masters.”
Burch stared at Ledenstrae for a moment then barked at him. The elf flinched back in fear, and the shifter chuckled. He stopped when he saw the murderous look on Kandler’s face as he glared at the elf.
"Who was it?” Kandler demanded.
A figure sauntered in from the balcony then, one whom Kandler recognized instantly. The emaciated, paperskinned elf stood there before him and took the arm that Ledenstrae kindly offered to her. Her fine robes of green and blue silk flowed around her, billowing in a gentle breeze. She opened her cut-like mouth and smiled so wide that Kandler feared her knife-sharp cheekbones might slice through her skin. Madness and glee danced in her sunken eyes.
"Majeeda,” Kandler said, his voice tight and low with shock.
Chapter
17
H ow wonderful to see you again,” Majeeda said to Kandler, Sallah, and Burch. "I feared our paths might never cross again.”
Kandler stared at the mad elf as if his eyes might fall from his'head. Sallah and Burch remained silent too, just as stunned as he. Ledenstrae struggled to stifle a vicious laugh, enjoying the situation but clearly wanting to avoid insulting his surprise guest.
Then Kandler realized he’d stopped breathing. He took in a deep breath then plastered a pleasant smile on his face. He thought that Ledenstrae would see it for the thin disguise it was, but he didn’t care. He knew from experience how dangerous the wizard was. If he treated her with the respect she felt she deserved, she would gobble it up, or so he hoped.
"My Lady Majeeda,” Kandler said in Elven, after clearing his throat. "How wonderful to
Kandler wondered why the elf hadn't just killed him straight out. He supposed that Ledenstrae’s influence here in Aerie might not be enough to cover up a cold-blooded murder. If so, then getting out of here with Espre wasn’t as hopeless a cause at it had seemed.
'Why now?” Kandler asked, suspicious. "What made you come searching for Espre now? What are the chances that you’d end up waiting for us here, right in our path?” The elf nodded sagely. "These are all fine questions. To answer: Now seemed like the right time. Certain information came to me that Espre was, in fact, alive and well, and I set out to find her. As for how I managed to track you down, I’ll admit I had a bit of help with that. An old friend of the family contacted me after running into you recently and alerted me to Espre’s plight. Fortunately, we have a great deal of influence in Shae Cairdal, and I was able to arrange for transport here immediately.”
Kandler stared at the elf. Who could have tipped Ledenstrae off to their whereabouts? The Lord of Blades or his lieutenant Bastard? Vol? Ikar the Black? The Captain of Bones?
Even if any of them had, how would Ledenstrae have known that they were headed here? Kandler hadn’t made the decision to head south until after they’d survived the battle with Nithkorrh and Ibrido.
There could only be one person.
"That changeling bitch,” he said. "She sold us out to you. She went from one mistress to another.”
Ledenstrae grinned, pulled back his thin, pale lips to reveal sharp, white teeth. "I’m sure I don’t know who you’re talking about,” he said. "You must feel surrounded by traitors on all sides. Perhaps your lady knight there betrayed you so she could serve her own cause?”
Kandler glanced at Sallah, who stood scowling at the elf.
When she noticed the justicar watching her, she snorted in disgust. "Could you really think such a thing of me?”
The elf giggled. "Perhaps it was your shifter friend there instead. How well do you really know him anyhow? He’s barely more than a wild beast, is he not?” He gave Burch a cold look. "I’ve heard of curs turning on their masters.”
Burch stared at Ledenstrae for a moment then barked at him. The elf flinched back in fear, and the shifter chuckled. He stopped when he saw the murderous look on Kandler’s face as he glared at the elf.
"Who was it?” Kandler demanded.
A figure sauntered in from the balcony then, one whom Kandler recognized instantly. The emaciated, paperskinned elf stood there before him and took the arm that Ledenstrae kindly offered to her. Her fine robes of green and blue silk flowed around her, billowing in a gentle breeze. She opened her cut-like mouth and smiled so wide that Kandler feared her knife-sharp cheekbones might slice through her skin. Madness and glee danced in her sunken eyes.
"Majeeda,” Kandler said, his voice tight and low with shock.
Chapter
17
H ow wonderful to see you again,” Majeeda said to Kandler, Sallah, and Burch. "I feared our paths might never cross again.”
Kandler stared at the mad elf as if his eyes might fall from his'head. Sallah and Burch remained silent too, just as stunned as he. Ledenstrae struggled to stifle a vicious laugh, enjoying the situation but clearly wanting to avoid insulting his surprise guest.
Then Kandler realized he’d stopped breathing. He took in a deep breath then plastered a pleasant smile on his face. He thought that Ledenstrae would see it for the thin disguise it was, but he didn’t care. He knew from experience how dangerous the wizard was. If he treated her with the respect she felt she deserved, she would gobble it up, or so he hoped.
"My Lady Majeeda,” Kandler said in Elven, after clearing his throat. "How wonderful to
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