Antyr jumped to his feet in terror, and Tarrian, tail well between his legs, scuttled behind him, crouching low.
'I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry,’ the figure said hastily, stepping forward and waving a reassuring hand. ‘I'm afraid it's Kany, my Companion, he's just realized that your Companion's a wolf.’ There was a pause as the figure craned forward, obviously listening to something intently. Antyr caught part of a high-pitched and earnest babble. ‘And that he's just eaten a rabbit,’ the figure concluded, his voice fading into nothingness as the sentence proceeded, so that the word ‘rabbit’ was mouthed significantly rather than spoken.
Antyr's wits cleared sufficiently for him to see that he was being addressed by an old man, grey-bearded, hunched and frail.
'You frightened us half to death,’ he said, both more loudly and more aggressively than he had really intended. ‘Coming out of the shadows like that…'
'I'm so sorry,’ the figure apologized again. ‘I can see I've upset you.’ He held out his hand. ‘My name's Pandra, Indares Pandra. I'm afraid we dropped off when we were reading and when we woke we accidentally overheard your conversation.’ He cleared his throat awkwardly.
'You mean you were eavesdropping,’ Tarrian said, erect now, and mildly indignant as he stepped out from behind Antyr.
The old man began a long and pensive, ‘Er…’ which was obviously rising to buttress a strong denial, but which concluded in a staccato ‘Yes’ as the speaker opted for the truth at the last moment.
'Forgive me … us,’ he added.
The sudden slide into abject contrition released Antyr's tension and made him smile. His still uncertain legs however, prompted him to sit down again and he indicated a nearby chair for the new arrival.
The old man hesitated for a moment.
'It's all right,’ Tarrian said, his voice echoing slightly so that Antyr knew he was speaking so that both Pandra and his Companion could hear. ‘Don't be afraid. I won't hurt you.'
'I'm not afraid, you savage,’ came the high-pitched voice that Antyr had heard briefly before. ‘I'll have your snout off if you give me any trouble.'
Somewhat to Antyr's surprise, Tarrian sat down looking rather sheepish and made no attempt to answer this seemingly unwarranted abuse. Then, as Pandra sat down, he pulled from the pocket of his gown a black rabbit. It was quite small, but its ears were well chewed and its face was scarred, giving it a distinctly bad-tempered, not to say ruffianly, appearance. After a pause for a long and rather laboured scratch it scuffled lopsidedly to the edge of the table and peered over at Tarrian.
Antyr caught a whiff of some swift animal exchange between the two, during which Tarrian spent most of the time with his ears drawn back while Kany chattered his teeth fiercely at him. Then, after some hesitation, Tarrian craned forward slowly, and rabbit and wolf touched noses briefly.
Antyr knew better than to inquire into the details of the debate. Companions were necessarily wild and free, and their animal affairs were very much their own, as most Dream Finders usually discovered quite early in their careers.
Satisfied, however, that the two Companions had made some kind of a professional peace-albeit, he suspected, based on a mutual dislike of ‘moggies’-Antyr turned again to the old man.
'Perhaps it's we who should apologize for waking you with our noise,’ he said. ‘We thought we were alone.'
Pandra shook his head. ‘No, it's fortunate you came,’ he said. ‘We could have slept till Dreamsend if you hadn't. I doubt anyone is likely to be down here before then.'
'Yes,’ Antyr agreed regretfully, though smiling again at the old man's manner. ‘I was surprised to see the place so deserted. It used to be so busy once.'
'Before your time, though, I suspect,’ Pandra replied, then he looked at Antyr intently. ‘What's your name, young man?’ he asked. ‘You've got the look of someone.'
Antyr introduced himself.
Pandra's eyes narrowed. ‘Antyr,’ he said, testing the name for a moment before realization dawned. ‘You're not Petran's lad, are you?’ he asked.
Antyr nodded. ‘Yes, I am,’ he said. ‘Did you know him?'
'Well, well. Fancy that,’ Pandra exclaimed, ignoring the question but sitting up and smiling broadly. ‘Kany, it's Petran's lad.'
'I heard,’ said the rabbit irritably.
Pandra continued, unabashed by his Companion's manner.
'Well, well,’ he repeated. ‘I should have known from the wolf, I suppose. They're not common these days. Now what's your name, Antyr's Companion? Don't tell me.’ He turned his face up towards the gloomy darkness of the ceiling for inspiration. ‘Tra … Tra … Tranian … no … Tarrian, that was it. Tarrian. Well, well. Don't you remember him, sitting alongside Petran, Kany?'
'All carnivores look the same to me,’ Kany replied testily, muttering as an afterthought, ‘all teeth, curled lips, and slobber.'
'I'm sorry,’ Pandra mouthed softly to Antyr. ‘Neither his memory nor his manners are what they were once.'
'I heard that,’ Kany said. Pandra stroked him gently and made a clicking noise with his tongue.
He looked at Antyr and shook his head proprietorially. ‘It's good to see you, Antyr,’ he said. ‘I can just about remember you as a little thing by your father's side. I didn't know him well, you understand. I don't think anyone really did. He was a bit stiff in his ways. But he was a fine man. Great integrity. Knew his craft, and always willing to help. He was highly regarded by those who mattered. I was shocked when he died so suddenly.'
He pursed his lips reflectively.
'Let's leave,’ Tarrian said privately to Antyr. ‘We've things to do and we're going to get his life story in a minute.'
Antyr flicked him with his foot discreetly.
'He used to worry about you, as I remember,’ Pandra went on. ‘Used to say you were something special, but he didn't know what. Still, that's parents for you, isn't it. Fuss and fret. Think their kids are going to be great artists, or Senedwrs, or some such, but you go your own way in the end, don't you? End up like the rest of us. Getting by. Earning a crust. Fussing and fretting over your own children in your turn.'
'Antyr…’ Tarrian murmured significantly.
'Do you remember anything particular that my father said about me?’ Antyr said, on an impulse. Tarrian let out an audible sigh and flopped down on the floor.
Pandra shook his head. ‘To be honest, I can't say that I do, Antyr,’ he replied. ‘It was just fathers’ talk, and as I say, I didn't know him all that well. He was always a bit distant.'
His eyes met Antyr's. ‘Why do you ask?'
Antyr was about to shrug off his inquiry casually, but something in Pandra's gaze drew him forward. ‘I've a problem,’ he said somewhat to his own surprise. ‘Something strange has happened-to both of us.’ He indicated Tarrian. ‘And I, we, just don't know what to make of it or where to turn for advice.'
'Oh dear,’ Pandra said sympathetically, but not particularly hopefully. ‘If I can help you I will, of course, but I'm very slow these days, virtually retired now. Very much out of touch with modern developments.'
'I don't think it's a modern problem,’ Antyr said. ‘I think it might be a very old one.'
'Ah. I wondered what you were doing thinking about the MaraVestriss legend.’ Kany's high-pitched voice interrupted the conversation. ‘What were you looking for?'
Though the rabbit looked old, the curiosity in its voice was that of inquiring and vigorous youth, and both Antyr and Tarrian started.
Pandra lifted a restraining hand. ‘I'm sorry,’ he said. ‘I'm afraid Kany's very nosy. Not to say rude.'
'Well?’ asked Kany ignoring the comment.
'I don't know what we were looking for, but this is what we found,’ Antyr said, indicating the illustration.
Kany sidled over to the book and peered at it, his nose twitching. ‘And?’ he asked.
'Master of the monosyllable, this one,’ Tarrian muttered, prompting another prod from Antyr's foot.
'I was visited by such an apparition last night,’ Antyr said bluntly. ‘And separated from the protection of my Companion.'
Pandra's eyes widened in disbelief and then alarm. He drew in a noisy, shocked breath. Kany made a strange, high, whistling sound.
'Separated? What do you mean? What happened?’ the old man managed, after a moment, his face full of concern.
Briefly, Antyr told him, aware that Kany and Tarrian were communicating between themselves as he did.
When he had finished, the dusty silence of the library seemed to close around the group. Pandra shook his head in dismay. ‘I've never heard the like,’ he said, eventually. ‘Never. How could such a thing be? If you weren't a Dream Finder I'd say you'd been dreaming.'
'I don't know,’ Antyr said. ‘That's why we're here. Floundering around. Searching for anything that might tell us what's happening or what to do.'
'It should be a matter for the Guild Council, I suppose,’ Pandra said, without conviction. ‘But it's not what it was.'
He pursed his lips and rubbed his thumb and forefinger together. ‘Fees seem to be the only thing that they're interested in these days. And anyway, I wouldn't trust some of them to find the Duke's palace on Viernce Liberation Day, let alone a dream. And as for dealing with this…’ He shook his head. ‘Kany, what do you think?'
'I think I'm too old for this,’ the rabbit replied. ‘And so are you. I've heard Tarrian's side, and it's bad. Beyond anything we can help with. Take me home.’ There was a brief private communication between the two which ended with Pandra picking the rabbit up and placing him back in his pocket. He threw an appeal for understanding to Antyr.
Antyr nodded. ‘I'm sorry,’ he said. ‘It was thoughtless of me to burden you with such a problem. Maybe I will take it to the Council, after all. They should know about it even if they don't know what to do with it.'
'They'll either form a committee to look into it, or strike you off the roll for intemperance,’ Kany said unexpectedly.
Antyr's mouth dropped open.
'I'm sorry, I had to do a little burrowing into you,’ Kany said sincerely, but in a tone of regretting the need rather than the deed. ‘But if it's any consolation, the wolf's right. What happened was none of your doing.'
Antyr shot an angry glance at Tarrian who must have conspired in this intrusion, but his reproach was met with the same attitude. ‘Companion's need,’ Tarrian said, almost tersely. ‘Who knows what danger we're in. And we need all the help we can get.’ Adding privately, ‘He might be a bad-tempered old rodent, but he's sharp, believe me.'
Antyr heard the justice in Tarrian's words but he still felt humiliated by this clandestine observation of his inner thoughts. ‘Damn you both,’ he said turning away. ‘You could have asked.'
Kany chuckled darkly in the warm comfort of Pandra's pocket. ‘Since when does a hunter tell the prey what's going on?’ he said.
'He means you'd have shut him out, Antyr,’ Tarrian interjected hastily, seeing Antyr's jaw tighten. ‘It's very difficult not to. Especially when you're afraid.'
Pandra reached across and laid a hand on his arm. ‘Don't be angry,’ he said. ‘You know he's right. Kany's confirmed the reality of what happened. Something like that could have been an accidental coincidence of thoughts between you and Tarrian. A sort of unknowing mutual deception. I've heard of such things happening. Never actually met anyone to whom it's happened, mind you, but…'
Antyr put his hands to his head and closed his eyes. He had not even been aware of the faint, flickering hope that he now felt dying out, but its passing left him feeling starkly alone.
And frightened.
He stared into the shapeless colours that flitted behind his eyelids, and wished himself far away.
'I need a drink,’ he said bitterly, only just overcoming an urge to sweep all the books off the table.
'Have as many as you like,’ Kany said brutally. ‘Drink yourself into a stupor if you want, but you're the focus of this problem and it won't go away.'
'How the hell do you know anything?’ Antyr said angrily.
'I know because I'm old, like the wolf here,’ Kany snapped back, in like vein. ‘A damn sight older than you, I might add. And because I know most of my strengths and weaknesses.'
'I know my weaknesses well enough,’ Antyr replied acidly. ‘As does everyone else in Serenstad judging from the amount of advice I'm given about them.'
'I really am too old for you humans and your endless foolishness,’ Kany said wearily. His voice was suddenly quieter, but there was such restrained fury in his reply that Antyr quailed before it. ‘It's your strengths you don't know, not your weaknesses.'
The rabbit's words seemed to burn into Antyr's head.
'Strengths, Antyr,’ Kany repeated, more gently, and speaking privately to him. ‘Pandra here is a fine Dream Finder. One of the old school. Cares about his craft, cares about his clients, and me. I couldn't wish for better. But you're different. You're far beyond him. I can tell that even without working with you. And Tarrian is beyond me. He keeps it from me but he must have been touched by humans of rare skill in his growing.’ He paused, puzzled. ‘And by something, someone, else … strange … subtle … but…'
His voice drifted into silence.
Antyr, still shaken by the unexpected power radiating from such an incongruous source, picked up his last word. ‘But what?’ he said in some despair. ‘I'm not aware of any strengths in myself. And if I were, what use is this strength if I can't know how to use it?'
Kany was silent and Antyr could feel his sense of impotence.
'There's old Nyriall, of course, perhaps he can help,’ said Pandra.
Antyr felt Kany's mood fill with self-reproach and then brighten. ‘Ah,’ he exclaimed. ‘I'm a useless old doe. I'm getting so forgetful. Of course, Nyriall. And he's got a wolf for a Companion too. Or he used to have.’ He became ecstatic. ‘Yes, yes, that's it. Go now. Go quickly. See Nyriall.'
Antyr found himself standing up under the urgency of Kany's appeal.
'Where does he live?’ he asked in some bewilderment.
'I've no idea,’ Kany said brusquely. ‘See that old fool of a porter. He'll have it somewhere in one of his precious books. Go along. Hurry up.'
Bustled out of the library by Kany's urging, Antyr turned to Tarrian as they trotted up the stairs. ‘What are we doing, running about like this at the behest of a rabbit?'
'I really can't comment about a fellow Companion,’ Tarrian said, with dignity.
'Yes. Unless they happen to be feline,’ Antyr replied with some amusement, finding an unexpected release in the simple physical activity of walking. ‘I noticed he had you jumping as well.'
Tarrian glowered at him. ‘Not at all,’ he said. ‘I just deferred to an older colleague as is fitting.'
Antyr was still chuckling at Tarrian's discomfiture as they crossed the wide hallway with a purposeful clatter.
Reaching the main door, they found they had to wait through another of the porter's rambling rituals after Antyr made his request for the address of Nyriall. First came the look over the eye glasses and then the scowl at this interruption to his duties. Next came an inquiry: ‘And what is the reason for wanting this address?'
'Don't take that,’ Tarrian said indignantly. ‘It's none of his business, cheeky old devil.'
'A Dream Finding matter,’ Antyr said diplomatically but firmly, returning to the porter a portion of his scowl.
Then came another search through the book, even more leisurely than before, and finally there was a painstaking search for paper, pen and ink and a writing down of the address. Throughout this Antyr managed to maintain a fixed smile, but as the porter finally began to wave the paper with exaggerated slowness in order to dry the ink, Tarrian put his forelegs on the counter and, craning forward, fixed him with a grim grey-eyed gaze.
The porter thrust the paper into Antyr's hand quickly and gave him a surly nod of dismissal.
Antyr looked at the smudged writing as he moved to the door and his heart sank.
'What's the matter?’ Tarrian asked.
'Dream Finder Nyriall might find favour with our bumptious rabbit, but seemingly not with anyone else,’ Antyr replied. ‘He lives in the Moras district.'
Before Tarrian could voice his opinion on this revelation, however, the main door opened and two soldiers entered. Antyr recognized the livery of the Duke's bodyguard again and he stepped back to let them enter. As they passed him, he saw they wore the insignia of the eagle without the lamb. They were the guards seconded to Lord Menedrion.
'Wait a minute,’ Tarrian said as Antyr made to leave. ‘Let's see how Happiness here treats the Duke's men. I doubt they'll be as patient as we were.'
Tarrian's prognostication was correct.
'You,’ said the first man authoritatively, slapping his hand smartly on the counter.
Antyr and Tarrian chuckled privately at the alacrity with which the porter stood up and, smiling sycophantically, began rubbing his hands together.
The soldier eyed him coldly. ‘We're looking for the Dream Finder Antyr. Where can we find him?'
The porter's eyes gleamed knowingly.