The Vildecaz Talents: The complete set of Vildecaz Stories including Nimuar's Loss, The Deceptive Oracle and Agnith's Promise by Chelsea Quinn Yarbro Page A
Authors: Chelsea Quinn Yarbro
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than you have? Or a magically strong and vengeful loser? What then?” Ver challenged as she brought out a basket of cup-bread, setting it on the table with a meaningful look at Rimdoch.
“I suppose I’ll find out when that happens,” said Rimdoch with supreme disinterest.
“You’re not using your talent well,” said Erianthee as she continued to eat.
“As if you know what a good use would be,” said Rimdoch, smiling in warning. “At least, my talent does more than entertain.”
“I have a fair notion what a better use of your gifts might be, and so do you,” she countered, then realized that she was playing into his manipulation.
Rimdoch shrugged and got up from his stool. “I’ll be back in half an hour, if you need any help.”
“Is that what your father ordered? you are to help me?” Erianthee asked, more than half-finished with her breakfast.
“No; my mother gave the order.” He strolled away, whistling a scrap of melody as he went.
“Well! Good riddance to him!” Ver exclaimed. “That lad is too clever for his own good. His brothers are nowhere near as outrageous as he. One of these days, he’ll have to deal with the error of his ways.”
Erianthee looked at the cook and tried to reassure her. “He’s young – he’ll learn.”
“Do you think so?” Ver asked in a sudden rush of world-weariness. “Why should he? He wins.”
“For now,” said Erianthee between spoonfuls. She wiped her mouth, then said, “I’ll need a horse, ready to go, and an escort for riding.”
A voice in the shadow of the doorway spoke up. “It will be my honor, Duzna Erianthee,” said Kloveon of Fauthsku. He respected her as he came into the room. “You seem troubled.”
Erianthee almost choked on the last of the berries she was about to eat. “Mirkal!” She stifled a shriek, and then regained her composure. “I thank you for your offer, but I have no wish to impose upon you.”
Kloveon chuckled. “It is not imposition, it is a privilege. Assisting you in any capacity is a privilege.” He managed to imbue this declaration with many sorts of meaning.
Nonplused, she stared at him, breakfast forgotten. Gathering her wits again, she said, “You are an Imperial Courier, and therefore under obligation to the Emperor. What I do may be beyond your mission.”
“You needn’t fret, Erianthee,” said Kloveon, paying no attention to the interested gaze Ver had turned on him. “I will not divulge anything you wish me to keep in confidence, or any other kind of confidence you may bestow upon me.”
Erianthee coughed nervously. “So you say, but will you be able to accomplish that?”
“I promise by the Six Founder Gods that I will hold your trust above all others,” he said without flourish, making himself all the more convincing.
“And I suppose you would follow me if I refused your escort?” she challenged.
“I might,” he conceded. “For your protection, and the protection of your father.”
Before she could think of a rejoinder, he went on, “I am ready to leave at once to join you on your errand. If you like, I will go to the stable and I’ll get your mare ready for you, so as soon as you are through here, we may depart.”
“Aren’t you hungry?” she asked, making a last attempt to dissuade him.
“I have eaten already,” said Kloveon.
“That he has,” Ver confirmed. “And asked for a mid-day meal that you can take with you.”
Erianthee wished she could bring herself to glare at Kloveon, but found she could not. She drank the lilac-colored milk left in her bowl, wiped her mouth again, and before she could lose her nerve and change her mind, said, “Very well. Let us be off.” And without waiting for Kloveon or Ver to speak, she strode out of the kitchens into the herb-garden, and took the path to the stable, certain that Kloveon was behind her.
* * *
A Salah-badger, a russet-furred redcoon, and a wild pony had warned Ninianee to be careful of the hunters still
“I suppose I’ll find out when that happens,” said Rimdoch with supreme disinterest.
“You’re not using your talent well,” said Erianthee as she continued to eat.
“As if you know what a good use would be,” said Rimdoch, smiling in warning. “At least, my talent does more than entertain.”
“I have a fair notion what a better use of your gifts might be, and so do you,” she countered, then realized that she was playing into his manipulation.
Rimdoch shrugged and got up from his stool. “I’ll be back in half an hour, if you need any help.”
“Is that what your father ordered? you are to help me?” Erianthee asked, more than half-finished with her breakfast.
“No; my mother gave the order.” He strolled away, whistling a scrap of melody as he went.
“Well! Good riddance to him!” Ver exclaimed. “That lad is too clever for his own good. His brothers are nowhere near as outrageous as he. One of these days, he’ll have to deal with the error of his ways.”
Erianthee looked at the cook and tried to reassure her. “He’s young – he’ll learn.”
“Do you think so?” Ver asked in a sudden rush of world-weariness. “Why should he? He wins.”
“For now,” said Erianthee between spoonfuls. She wiped her mouth, then said, “I’ll need a horse, ready to go, and an escort for riding.”
A voice in the shadow of the doorway spoke up. “It will be my honor, Duzna Erianthee,” said Kloveon of Fauthsku. He respected her as he came into the room. “You seem troubled.”
Erianthee almost choked on the last of the berries she was about to eat. “Mirkal!” She stifled a shriek, and then regained her composure. “I thank you for your offer, but I have no wish to impose upon you.”
Kloveon chuckled. “It is not imposition, it is a privilege. Assisting you in any capacity is a privilege.” He managed to imbue this declaration with many sorts of meaning.
Nonplused, she stared at him, breakfast forgotten. Gathering her wits again, she said, “You are an Imperial Courier, and therefore under obligation to the Emperor. What I do may be beyond your mission.”
“You needn’t fret, Erianthee,” said Kloveon, paying no attention to the interested gaze Ver had turned on him. “I will not divulge anything you wish me to keep in confidence, or any other kind of confidence you may bestow upon me.”
Erianthee coughed nervously. “So you say, but will you be able to accomplish that?”
“I promise by the Six Founder Gods that I will hold your trust above all others,” he said without flourish, making himself all the more convincing.
“And I suppose you would follow me if I refused your escort?” she challenged.
“I might,” he conceded. “For your protection, and the protection of your father.”
Before she could think of a rejoinder, he went on, “I am ready to leave at once to join you on your errand. If you like, I will go to the stable and I’ll get your mare ready for you, so as soon as you are through here, we may depart.”
“Aren’t you hungry?” she asked, making a last attempt to dissuade him.
“I have eaten already,” said Kloveon.
“That he has,” Ver confirmed. “And asked for a mid-day meal that you can take with you.”
Erianthee wished she could bring herself to glare at Kloveon, but found she could not. She drank the lilac-colored milk left in her bowl, wiped her mouth again, and before she could lose her nerve and change her mind, said, “Very well. Let us be off.” And without waiting for Kloveon or Ver to speak, she strode out of the kitchens into the herb-garden, and took the path to the stable, certain that Kloveon was behind her.
* * *
A Salah-badger, a russet-furred redcoon, and a wild pony had warned Ninianee to be careful of the hunters still
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