The Vildecaz Talents: The complete set of Vildecaz Stories including Nimuar's Loss, The Deceptive Oracle and Agnith's Promise by Chelsea Quinn Yarbro

in the Castle this morning.”
    Erianthee took a long moment to digest this, then sat up straight in bed. “How do you mean, not in the Castle?”
    “I mean,” said General Rocazin, “that they are not in their apartments, nor in any other part of the Castle I can find.”
    Frowning now, Erianthee swung her legs out from under the covers; she did her best to conceal her growing anxiety with an ordinary request. “Have Ver make me some hot milk-and-shandoz-berries, if you would, please. I will be with you directly.” She got to her feet. “In the meantime, make sure none of this information is communicated to our guests. You may not be able to stop all speculation, but you can quash any you come upon.”
    “I will try, Duzna,” said General Rocazin, her dignified face eloquent of worry; she respected Erianthee and left her alone to dress.
    It’s not enough, Erianthee thought to herself as she got out of her larnija and tugged on her underclothes, to have Yulko Bihn and that woman and Kloveon of Fauthsku here at the same time, and Doms Guyon in Valdihovee, all at the full moon, but now Papa and Ninianee can’t be found. By Hyneimoj and Agnith! I hope nothing terrible has happened. She tugged on her guin and her gaunel and fastened its laces with less than her usual care, trying not to curse to keep from accidentally triggering a misfortune spell. Rather than taking the time to style her loose, burnished curls into any of the fashionable coifs that she usually wore while there were guests at the Castle, she pulled it back, braided it loosely, and tied it off with a wide, Mozh-cloth ribbon. Then she drew on her sturdiest shoes and headed out of her bedchamber, reaching for her most magical dogaza as she opened the door. She thrust her arms through the wide arm holes of the dogaza, and tugged her door closed.
    As she entered the kitchen, she found Ver Mindicaz standing over the massive iron stove, stirring a pot, and deep in conversation with Rimdoch Ruch. Checking herself on the threshold, she decided to announce her presence by saying, “I hope you have my breakfast ready.”
    “ – and those two contortionists,” Rimdoch was saying. “I think they must have used magic to do some of the things they did. I don’t know how they managed to twist around each other in that way they did, both with a full half-turn to their backs, and folded down like snakes.”
    “I liked seeing Doms Guyon perform again,” Ver admitted. “Although I quite understand why Duzna Ninianee is angry with him.” Belated she looked up in some surprise. “Duzna Erianthee,” she said, startled. “You’ve come down in a hurry.”
    “Yes. Well, I thought it best,” said Erianthee, being deliberately vague.
    Rimdoch offered her a cynical smile. “Did your Shadowshow affect you this way? You’re usually exhausted.”
    “It isn’t that,” she said, taking a place at the Cook-Major’s table, as was her right. “All these guests!”
    “Truly,” said Ver, reaching for a deep, beautiful bowl of pale alabaster, and poured the hot milk-and-shandoz-berries into it; the lilac color of the liquid set off the alabaster and looked the more appetizing because of it. “You’d best eat the berries while they’re hot. It won’t matter if the milk cools.” She held Erianthee’s eye for a long moment, then stepped back.
    Erianthee had heard that admonition since she was a child, first from Ver’s aunt, and then from Ver herself; she answered dutifully, “I will.”
    Rimdoch drew up a stool near to the Cook-Major’s table, a disquietingly cynical grin on his young face. “Kloveon’s men are a bit lighter of gold than they were last night – all but the two who stayed to watch your Shadowshow.”
    “Rimdoch,” Erianthee sighed. “I wish you wouldn’t – “
    ”They should know I have some talent for gambling,” Rimdoch dared to interrupt. “It’s no secret.”
    “And what happens to you when you meet a gambler with more talent