Weasel Presents by Kyell Gold Page A

corner, the three chairs (one overturned and broken), and the side table shoved into one corner all bore thick coats of dust. Even the portrait of King Barris looked aged, as though the King himself were older, the paint faded.
    Helfer padded to the window to see whether he could escape that way; some of the second floor offices were near trees. As a cub, he’d slipped out of his friend Dewry’s room that way more than once. Alas, the trees were closer to Dewry’s old window than to these; the closest tree he could see was twenty feet away, beyond even his adult leaping ability. He turned back to the door, kicking up clouds of dust that tickled his nose. Too late, he stopped, crammed a paw to his muzzle, and tried to hold back the sneeze that had begun to build.
    “Ah...Mmmmmmf...Ahhhh...”
    He managed to contain it mostly, though the sensation of the spasm backing down into his throat was quite unpleasant. Shaking his head, eyes watering, he looked up into the eyes of Lord Alister, who was holding out a handkerchief. The coyote eased the office door closed behind him with the other paw.
    “Smelled you on the frame,” he said shortly. “Go on, take it.”
    Helfer took the handkerchief and dabbed at his eyes. “This dust,” he said, glancing at the closed door and then back at Alister. He returned the handkerchief. “What’s going on?”
    “Well,” Alister said, “there’s been a little trouble, and I wanted to talk to you in private before he got a chance to.”
    “He who?”
    “Do you know where Lord Vinton might be today?”
    Helfer laughed. “Sure. He’s in his chambers getting cleaned up.” He winked at the coyote.
    Alister frowned. “He wasn’t there earlier this morning. His servant came to ask what happened to him.”
    “Well, maybe he spent the night outside the palace. And just got back in time for some fun in the morning.”
    The coyote rocked back and forth on his feet, rubbing his whiskers. “Are you sure you heard him? You heard his voice?”
    “Well, no. But who else would have been in his chambers?” It was occurring to Helfer that even if Volle had spent the night outside, he wouldn’t have been late back to the morning run. And Welcis would have known where his master was. He was nearly as good about that as Caresh was.
    “Where might he have spent the night?” Alister leaned in.
    “Why?” Helfer leaned back, suddenly worried.
    Alister’s nose twitched. He took a breath. “Because I like him,” he said. “Now, where might he have spent the night, if not here?”
     
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    “I really don’t know,” Helfer said. “Honest.”
    Alister pressed a paw to his head. “Who else would know, if not you?”
    “What about his wife’s family?”
    “I wasn’t aware he spent any time with them, since Lady Vinton is living down south.”
    “That’s probably right,” Helfer conceded.
    “You’re sure you don’t have any idea? Anyone else who might have a thought?”
    “I--I don’t know.” He did have an idea, though he wasn’t about to share it with Alister. “Listen, can I go now?”
    The coyote shook his head. “No, he’s going to want to ask you the same questions, no doubt. Though I should warn you he’s not going to have any patience with that answer.”
    “Who’s ‘he’?” Helfer was afraid he already knew, but he had to ask nonetheless.
    “Talison, of course.” Alister’s eyes showed the disdain his neutral tone did not. “Come on back to my office. He said he’d wait there for you.”
    “Well,” Helfer said, holding up his paws, “love to, but you know, I have a really full day ahead of me, so if you’re finished with me, I think I’ll go get started on it.”
    Alister opened his muzzle and then snapped it shut. His eyes met Helfer’s and then he grinned, a wide startling expression that Helfer couldn’t recall ever seeing on the coyote before. “Well, Lord Ikling,” he said, “perhaps you should go get started on your day. I daresay if Lord