“Then I think perhaps best you remain here until your presence is required,” he said.
I said, “Those were skyboats I saw, no?”
He said calmly, “They were.”
I said, “What truck do you have with the Sky Lords?”
He said, “Doubtless the Raethe shall explain. If it sees fit.”
I ground my teeth in helpless anger. Clearly I’d have no answers of Ayl. Either he lacked the knowledge, or he chose to hold it from me. I grunted and said, “So be it.”
He ducked his head again and then leaned closer, his voice dropping to a bass rumble that none save we might hear. “Do you heed my advice, Daviot,” he said, “you’ll curb your impatience. Only wait, and you’ll have your answers. And that necklace Rwyan wears be sooner removed.”
I frowned, unsure whether he issued honest advice or a non-too-subtle threat. Certainly, I believed he prevaricated where the Sky Lords were concerned. I’d have spoken up, but Rwyan squeezed my hand in warning, and I bit back my retort and nodded my acceptance.
Ayl lounged back, as if he’d not a problem in all the world. He appeared entirely at ease, unsurprised and comfortable as any regular visitor to this inn, any inhabitant of Trebizar-like a man come home. I supposed he was; and then that, had he not lied to us from the start, he could not be. Had he told the truth, then he could be no more familiar with this place than we Truemen. Nor any better acquainted with the road or the towns-I perceived fresh mystery here.
I studied his face as brimming mugs were set before us and thought of another oddity. No payment was asked, neither here nor in any place we had halted. The landlord only set down the tankards, nodded casual greeting, glanced at Rwyan, Tezdal, and me as if he were not at all surprised to find three Truemen seated in his taproom, and walked away.
I said, “It seems we were expected.”
Ayl lowered his tankard only long enough to nod.
“Nor’s payment asked,” I said.
Ayl said, “No.”
I said, “Is that the way here? Is there no currency?”
“We’ve coinage,” he said. “But those on the Raethe’s business travel free.”
“How are you recognized?” I asked. “You wear no badge of office that I can see.”
He chuckled then, gesturing with his mug. “Think you it’s a common sight,” he said, “three Truemen on our roads?”
That, I must admit, was likely rare; I asked him, “How did you know the road, Ayl?”
He shook his shaggy head, and I saw the mask again drop over his features. “Daviot,” he said kindly enough, but nonetheless firmly, “doubtless you’re agog with curiosity, but it’s not my place to answer your questions. Do you follow that advice I gave and bide your time. Ask of the Raethe, not me.”
His eyes met mine, and I saw that he would speak no more of such matters. I shrugged and drank ale, our conversation becoming a desultory affair, designed more to fill the awkward silence than satisfy the questions that teemed in my head.
We sat thus as our tankards were refilled and food served us. I was uncomfortable, and that somewhat leached my appetite. Rwyan, too, was nervous, but Tezdal seemed not at all discomfited. I supposed that for him all had been strange since his awakening on the rock, and consequently this no odder than any other situation. I wondered how he should react did we encounter Kho’rabi. Should that engage his memory; might some Sky Lord present here recognize him? For all I’d done my best, I’d had no success in restoring him his lost past. I wondered should I feel so kindly toward him did he return to what he’d been. Or for that matter, he to me.
I pondered all this as our table was cleared and Ayl interrupted my silent musing.
“For now,” he said, “you must remain here. But I understand the rooms are comfortable, and there’s a bathhouse.”
“I’d see this fabulous city,” I said.
At which the Changed smiled apologetically and told me no, repeating that until the Council granted us audience, we must confine ourselves to the inn.
Rwyan said, “A hot tub should be a luxury.”
She squeezed my hand as she spoke, which I took to be a warning or a request, and so I acceded. I thought my agreement afforded Ayl some measure of relief, as if he’d avoid open argument. That surprised me, for I now saw us more truly as captives, and I wondered why he should concern himself with my wants or displeasures.
He sent Glyn to arrange it and called the landlord to show us to our chambers. Once again, Rwyan and I were given shared quarters, Tezdal in the adjoining room. Unusually after so much latitude, our doors were locked. My unease waxed, and I inspected the chamber as Rwyan took her bath.
It was as Ayl had promised. A wide bed spread with fresh linen stood against one wall between two windows. I checked them both and found them secured beyond my undoing. They gave a view of rooftops, a section of street, the lake blue beyond the farther houses. I could not see the skyboats. There was a wardrobe and a washstand; a screened partition hid a commode. There were two comfortable wooden chairs set either side of a small table, on which stood a decanter of pale wine and two glasses, a flask of water. The floor was spread with colorful rugs and a lantern hung from the ceiling. It felt suddenly like a cell: I paced impatiently.
Rwyan came back perfumed with sandalwood, and I led her around the room, that she might familiarize herself with its furniture. Then Glyn escorted me to the bathhouse. I was aware the Changed stood sentry outside as I scrubbed myself. This sudden concern with our security disturbed me, and I bathed swiftly, going back damp to the room.
The door was locked behind me, and I crossed to where Rwyan sat on the wide bed.
“I cannot understand this concern,” I said. “Why lock doors now? Why deny us the freedom we’ve had so far? In the God’s name, we’re in the heart of Ur-Dharbek-we could scarce hope to escape from here.”
She touched me and, finding me still somewhat moist, began to towel my hair.
“I think there must be things here they’d not yet have us know,” she said. “How many skyboats did you see?”
I took my head from under her busy toweling. “Perhaps a score. Hardly enough for invasion. At least, not yet.”
“You believe it so?” She dropped the towel. I picked it up; flung it aside.
“What else?” I said. “I’ve seen Changed and Sky Lords together; their airboats here. Do they not agree it, then I think they must talk of it. Alliance, at the least … discussion of terms, of strategy…. The Sky Lords defy the Sentinels now, so the Border Cities should likely prove no greater obstacle.”
“Aye,” she said soft. “Doubtless they should strike down no few skyboats, do they mount the Great Coming. But not enough, do they come in numbers. The God knows, they’ve always found ways past us, and now … now do they attack across the Fend and across the Slammerkin; do the Changed of Dharbek rise to support them …”
She’d no need of elaboration. The land already bled under the wounding of that unnatural summer. Jareth was regent, deemed weak, his elevation a source of discontent amongst the aeldors. Was the Great Coming launched, did the Changed rise-I shivered at the thought. Better than any save this woman who sat with me, I knew how subtle were the secret ways of the folk we Truemen had made, how surely they communicated, that their eyes and ears were everywhere, hidden by their very station. It was as if the sorcerers had created some hydra, a monster invisible until it struck.
“Dharbek’s lost,” I said.
Rwyan ducked her head. “And the Changed have magic now,” she whispered, fingering the necklace glinting at her throat. “They can do this. They’ve made this valley, and as you describe it, only great magic could create such a place. I think the hills must hold an abundance of crystals. Changed have dwelt here long enough, they absorb the magic. They develop the talent!”
“But surely long exposure destroys,” I said. “You told me that. It brings madness.”
“Is war not madness?” she returned. “But yes, I told you that. And so it is-for Truemen. Perhaps the Changed are different; perhaps the crystals do not destroy them.”
“Then why take you?” I wondered, though I’d already a horrid suspicion. “Can they do all this, what need of you?”
“I’m not sure,” she said, and shuddered, so that I put my arms about her and held her close as her voice dropped low.
“Save …”
“Save what?” I prompted, thinking I’d not welcome the answer.
Nor did I: Rwyan said, “Save they’d plumb my mind. Learn Dharbek’s secrets-our usage of those crystals that ward the Fend, the Slammerkin-learn the limits of our magic.”