But then something seemed to strengthen him and his tone became firmer, more familiar.
“Have you discovered anything new?”
“Yes. I’ve found a place where I can see the sky—a way in and out. And I’m trying to re-create the tonic that Glim and I used to reach this place.”
“That’s good,” he said. “Perhaps I can find something like that on my way there. We should pass through Rimmen in a few days, and then Leyawiin.”
That sounded a little odd, as if he didn’t have his mages with him, but maybe he preferred to handle certain things himself.
“I’ve always wanted to see Rimmen,” she told him. “They say the Akaviri built a magnificent shrine there, the Tonenaka. They say it houses ten thousand statues. And the canals are said to be amazing.”
“Well, I’ve never been there either,” Attrebus said. “But I’ll tell you about it next time we speak.”
“That would be wonderful, Prince.”
“I shan’t be dawdling there, though,” he went on. “Time is of the essence. But I’m sure I’ll see something worth mentioning.” He paused. “I find titles cumbersome in conversation. I would prefer you did not use them.”
“What should I call you, your highness?”
“Attrebus will do, or ‘Treb.’ It will save time when we talk.”
“I’ll try,” she said. “It seems strange to be so familiar with you.”
“Try it, for my sake.”
There was that troubled look again.
“Are you—well, Attrebus? Is something wrong?”
“There have been some setbacks here,” he said. “I won’t bore you with the details.”
“It wouldn’t be boring,” she said.
“Well, then I’d rather not talk about it,” he modified.
She realized then that his eyes were glistening a bit.
“I must go now,” he said. “Keep yourself safe, above all. Will you do that?”
“I will,” she said.
He nodded, and then his image vanished behind Coo’s door.
She stood there for a moment, a bit breathless, then snuck back into the shaft-room. Slyr didn’t look as if she had stirred.
Annaïg sat with her back against the wall.
Something was wrong with the prince. That didn’t bode well, did it?
But at the moment there wasn’t much she could do but continue to stay alive, try to get in touch with Glim, rediscover the secret of flying …
Actually, that was quite a lot, wasn’t it? Her hands were full.
So she needed her rest. No use to worry about things that were, at the moment, beyond her.
But she hoped Attrebus—he’d asked her to call him Attrebus!—she hoped he was all right.
Attrebus closed the little door on the bird. This was the first time he’d seen her face; her green eyes and generous, sensual lips, a nose that some might consider a bit large, but belonged perfectly on her face. Hair like dark twists of black silk.
The face of the woman he’d failed.
“Well, she, at least, is alive,” he told Sul, who sat on the other side of the small fire they’d built.
“So I gather,” Sul said. “Interesting, that bird. The dwemer used to make similar toys, before the world swallowed them up. Do you know where it’s from?”
“She said it came from her mother, and I gather her mother was middling nobility from Highrock.”
“Well, things move around,” Sul grunted. “Let me see it.”
“See here—” Attrebus began, but the look in the Dunmer’s eyes stopped him. He stood and extended Coo. Sul took her, examined her a bit. The little door wouldn’t unclasp for him.
“Smart,” Sul said. “Only opens for who it was sent to.”
“I believe so,” Attrebus replied. “Radhasa couldn’t make it work.”
“Why didn’t you tell her?” Sul asked, prodding the fire, snapping a swarm of sparks toward the sky. “This Annaïg. Why didn’t you tell her you’ve lost all of your guard?”
“I don’t want to discourage her.”
“You’d rather give her false hope?”
“I don’t intend to give up.”
“That’s good,” Sul said. “It’s better that way.”
“As opposed to what?”
Sul didn’t answer right away, but instead drew his sword and examined the edge a bit before resheathing it. Finally he looked up at Attrebus.
“Here’s my worry,” Sul said. “I’ll make it plain right away, so it’s not between us from here on out. Let’s start with this: I’m going to find Umbriel. When I do, there’s going to be slaughter, pure and simple. I’m going to bring it down. It’s been suggested to me that you can help me, and that’s why I followed you, that’s why I killed your captors. But I saw your fight with the Redguard—I was waiting to be sure of where the others were before I made my move, and it was clear she had no intention of killing you. I heard the conversation.”
“She was lying,” Attrebus said.
“She wasn’t,” Sul replied. “You’re telling yourself that now because you’re too weak to face it. But like she said, you’re not fundamentally stupid. The branch already has too much weight on it—it’s starting to creak. You barely managed to get through your talk with the Breton girl without getting weepy—”