“You seem to be intrinsic to his plans, so I want you to find out what he’s up to. If I am right, it will be something that may well require his removal. I do not expect you to handle that. When the time comes, I will deal with my son. If the risks seem great, understand that if you find me the proof I desire it will leave you as Lord Heir. And I can make quite certain that neither Faris nor any other Shadowdancer ever bothers you again.”
Kihrin stared at him with skeptical eyes. Sure, he thought to himself. You’ll handle him. But he can summon up a demon prince. How will you handle that? He didn’t say anything though. He only trusted Therin slightly more than he trusted Darzin, which wasn’t saying much.
Therin pulled a new sheet of paper from his desk, and reached for a fresh crow quill. He said, “Darzin tells me the High General gave you Valathea. That’s a rare privilege.”
“You know about Valathea?”
“Of course. I have even heard her played. I was disturbed to discover she’s no longer in your possession.”
“It’s safe,” Kihrin said with a sullen voice.
“Of course she’s safe. She’s in your room. I suggest you not be so careless with her in the future. Now go—and try not to be too exuberant with your rehearsals. Your bedroom is adjacent to mine.”
39: IN SEARCH OF MUSIC
(Kihrin’s story)
Instead of going to my room, I headed to the Thriss village, looking for Szzarus.
“Monkey!” Szzarus greeted in Thriss. I couldn’t understand most of his language, but I’d picked up that word.
“Szzarus,” I said. “I know your people have drums. I was wondering if you have anything else? I’ve seen oboes a few times. Do you have anything with strings?”
He flicked out his tongue and tasted the air before saying something that sounded like a question.
“You know … strings?” I pantomimed strumming. It was too much to hope for a harp, but maybe someone in the village owned something that passed for a lute.
He made an acknowledging sound and motioned for me to follow.
The village was small and tidy, and filled with Thriss who lived on the island because of their dedication to Thaena. I’d gathered it was considered something of a monastic retreat among Szzarus’s people, so there were no children. Once a Thriss decided they’d stayed long enough, they went back to their homes on other islands or the jungles of Zherias. Some, like Szzarus, never left at all.
He showed me inside one of the cob houses. Neatly tucked into a corner were several drums, nearly as large as the ones used at the temple: cymbals, a tambourine, an amazing array of rattles, and a long-necked instrument with a deep squat bowl and a spike at the base. He motioned to the last one.
I picked it up gently. It only had three strings, and as I plucked them, Szzarus handed me a wooden bow strung with silk. The silk was too loose to be any good for bowing across the strings with tension. I had no idea if it was broken or if there was some trick to holding it that I didn’t understand. Szzarus gestured toward the long-necked instrument.
I sighed and handed it back to him. “Sorry, big guy, but I don’t think I can use this. At least not without a tutor.”
Szzarus shrugged and hung the bow from one of its tuning pegs.
“What kind of instrument are you looking for?” Teraeth asked.
I resisted the urge to leap a foot into the air. He must have used magic to sneak up on me.
“What are you doing here?” I lifted my head and glared at Teraeth. “We’ve nothing to say to each other.”
He leaned an arm against the hut door. “I’m just trying to help.”
“No, you aren’t,” I snapped. “What is this? Because I didn’t leave with you the way Khaemezra ordered, you followed me back here? I don’t need the company, so why don’t you fuck off.”
Teraeth just grinned, and said something to Szzarus. I didn’t catch most of it, although he did use the word “monkey.” Szzarus responded, laughed, and left the room.
“What did you tell him?”
“The truth: you don’t need his help.” Teraeth straightened. “Shorissa owns a lute, and Lonorin keeps a zither. As it happens, Lonorin thinks you’re adorable, so if you ask, I’m sure she’d be willing to lend it to you. See? I’m helping.”
“You’re an asshole.”
“I don’t believe being one disqualifies me from doing the other. Either is better than what you’re doing right now, which is being a child.”
“I’m being—” I sucked in a deep breath, held it to the count of three, and then released it in a hiss that any Thriss would have applauded. “I was being adult and mature and dealing with the reality of my situation. And then what happens? First, your mother sends Kalindra away. Then, instead of the sword trainer Khaemezra promised, she brings in ‘Doc.’ I think we can both agree that he possesses the sort of natural charm I wouldn’t cross the Senlay to save from crocodiles.”
Teraeth didn’t laugh, but he made that almost-smile I’d come to interpret as the next best thing. “He knocked me down a few rungs, didn’t he? I would’ve thought you’d like him for that.”
I scoffed. “Maybe I don’t want the competition.”
“So, let me help you.”
“Help me?” My laugh was unfriendly and bitter. “I don’t trust you or Khaemezra. Tyentso’s the only person around here who’s played straight with me. What does that say, considering she’s the witch who gaeshed me in the first place?” I looked back at the instruments. I couldn’t play any of those without a lot of practice. “Maybe Szzarus can give me lessons.” I moved to go past Teraeth.
He blocked me.
“Teraeth, get out of my way.”
“I met her in the Afterlife,” Teraeth said.
His answer so startled me that I couldn’t put his response into any context.
Then I realized he was talking about the Jorat girl.
His eyes had a faraway look as he lowered his arm and walked into the hut. I was free to leave at that point—if I wanted to. “It was during a Maevanos. I was in the Afterlife, and … well … so was she.”
“Then she’s dead. You’re saying she’s dead.” Dread clenched around my throat. I shuddered and let out a long stream of air. It didn’t make any sense. I knew it didn’t make any sense. Here I was hung up on some woman whom I’d never met and had no idea if I’d even like if I did meet her. I knew it was stupid.
But it didn’t change how I felt.
Teraeth raised his hands in a gesture of surrender. “Technically speaking, so was I at the time. Not everyone who wanders through the Afterlife is on their way to the Land of Peace.” Teraeth seemed to be choosing his words carefully. “But no, as it happens, I don’t think she was dead. Some beings can survive and travel through those lands at will. Were I the sort to place wagers, I would say she’s one of those.”
“You mean demons? But she can’t be…” I tasted bile. Yes, yes she could be. Xaltorath had been the one who had shown her to me, after all. Still, I rejected the idea. Xaltorath—indeed any demon I’d ever heard of—were all horrific and awful. They were not beautiful.*
“Demons can freely travel in the Afterlife, but so can gods,” Teraeth said.
“She’s not a god,” I answered automatically.
“Oh, because you would know. Aren’t you the expert now?”