Time stilled and he felt his heart rate slow and his breathing deepen. He was nearly asleep when he felt the tent flap open.
Before he could move, a shadowy figure took one quick step from the opening and grabbed him by the throat. As he came fully alert he smelled soft perfume and heard a whisper in his ear. “How sweet. You waited up for me.” Then he felt Natalia’s lips press hard on his as she pushed him over on his back, and pressed him down upon the pillows. He blinked, and in the gloom saw her beautiful face inches from his as she quickly unfastened her sleeping robe and cast it aside. Playfully slipping one hand down his stomach, she said, “My brother may not be able to think of a way to thank you for saving his life. But I have several ideas.”
Then she lowered her head and kissed him again.
Four
Choice
Tal sat down.
He sank heavily into the cushions of the divan while regarding the figure standing quietly in the corner. “Pasko has run Amafi down to the market on a pointless errand before the market closes, so we’re alone for a few minutes,” he said, raising a cup of wine. “Join me?”
The tall figure stepped out of the corner and removed his hat. Long white hair fell to his shoulders as pale blue eyes regarded Tal. “I won’t be here long. Father’s sent me with a message and a few questions.”
“At least sit down, Magnus.”
“I’ll stand,” said the young magician. For a while Magnus had taught Tal a little about magic and logic, but of all of those who had taught Tal, Magnus was the one with whom he felt the least kinship. Tal thought it ironic, as Caleb, Magnus’s younger brother, was the only man in the Conclave with whom Tal felt any sense of brotherhood. Both were hunters, both non-magic-users in a culture of magicians, both unable to understand much of what they saw around them every day. Of all those who served the Conclave, only Miranda, Magnus’s mother, was more of a stranger to Tal.
Tal said, “Forgive me, but I had a taxing day and night. I’ve had almost no sleep, and my wits have fled.”
Magnus smiled. “Your heroics with the bear and with the Lady Natalia, I gather?”
“You’ve heard?” Tal sat up, shocked. He had been back in the city less than an hour before departing the palace, which had been less than an hour ago. Which meant rumor would have had to have spread in record time. His eyes narrowed. “You couldn’t have heard. You saw!”
“Yes, I was watching.”
Tal didn’t hide his displeasure. It was the second time Magnus had secretly watched Tal. “I can almost understand you wishing to observe my fight with Raven, but why a simple hunt?”
“Because nothing involving Kaspar of Olasko is simple. Father asked me to ensure you were well on your way to ingratiating yourself with Kaspar, and between the rescue from the bear and your conquest of his sister, it appears things are well in hand. Besides, it will be the last time I spy on you.”
“Why?”
Magnus held his broad-brimmed hat in both hands. “First the questions. Are you ready to take service with Kaspar?”
“Almost, but not quite.”
“Soon, then?”
“Yes, soon.”
“Has either the Duke or his sister mentioned the man Leso Varen to you?”
“No. I would have taken note.”
“Father’s last question: do you have any idea why Kaspar seeks to put troops on the border of the Kingdom of the Isles, hundreds of miles from any significant objective?”
“Not even a hint.”
“Now, a question from me: why did you save Kaspar from that bear?”
Tal shook his head and sipped his wine. “To tell you the truth, I had no idea at the time. I just reacted. But after dwelling on it, I decided it must be the gods telling me something.”
“What?”
“It’s not enough to see Kaspar die. At the very least he must know why he is dying, but even more…”
“What?”
“I want to see him humbled. I want to watch as he realizes that everything he’s done, every murderous order given, every treacherous decision, has come to naught.”
Magnus was quiet for a moment, then said, “Killing him will be far easier than reducing him to such a state.”
“Still, that is my goal.”
“Your goal,” said Magnus, “if I may remind you, is first to discover why he desires a war with the Kingdom. Every shred of intelligence we have tells us you are correct in your surmise: Kaspar has some mad design on forging an alliance among the Eastern Kingdoms so he may launch a strike against Isle.
“And I emphasize the word ‘mad,’ for none of what he has accomplished so far reveals a hint of sanity.”
Tal nodded. “Yet I would wager my life that Kaspar is anything but mad. Devious, murderous, charming, even amusing; but he is as sane as any man. His choices may appear pointless, but there is always a design behind them.” He leaned forward and put his wine cup on the table. “Now, Pasko and Amafi will return soon, so we must be done with this quickly.”
“Then to the message. This from my father. You are to be detached.”