Erik came over and saw a faint crack along the back of the huge idol. He put his hand over it and felt a draft of air. “There’s an entrance behind here.”
Calis put his shoulder to the idol and Erik pushed as well. Rather than the enormous resistance they expected from an idol this massive, it rolled away a few feet, being hinged on the opposite side from where they stood. A man-sized opening was visible in the wall behind the idol, an entrance to a flight of stairs leading downward.
Miranda knelt and examined the base of the idol from behind. “This is marvelous engineering,” she observed.
Boldar looked at the metalwork. “Nothing like this was forged on Midkemia.”
Erik also looked at the marvelous wheels, pulleys, and hinges and was forced to agree. He wished for enough time to linger over these items—he was still fascinated by the smith’s arts—but Calis was already moving down the stairs.
Erik gripped his torch tightly in his left hand, his sword in his right, and called over his shoulder, “Sergeant!”
De Loungville shouted back, “What?”
“There’s a passage down here. The Captain’s heading down it.”
“Understood!” said de Loungville as he continued to have the men look over the corpses for anything that might shed light on what had happened in this strange underground city of serpent men.
Erik stepped on the top step and followed the others downward.
Duncan knocked on the gate and was quickly answered by a servant; he assumed the gateman had been waiting for Roo to arrive.
“Yes?” asked the servant.
“I bear a message for Lady Sylvia from Rupert Avery.”
Seeing the rider was dressed in fine clothing, the servant opened the gate, asking, “And who might you be, sir?”
“I am Duncan Avery.”
“Very well, sir,” said the servant, closing the gate behind Duncan as he rode up to the front of the house.
Duncan dismounted and gave the reins to another servant, and walked to the door. He knocked loudly.
A few moments later the door opened, and Sylvia stood regarding Duncan. She wore another of the stunning evening gowns only the boldest young women of Krondor would dare to display themselves in; she was one of the few who could do justice to it.
Duncan smiled his most charming smile.
She said, “I was expecting Rupert.”
“He sends his regrets. I thought it far more civil to bring word in person, rather than letting an impersonal note serve.”
She stepped aside and said, “Do come in.”
He entered and said, “He regrets that the press of business and family matters conspire to keep him away this evening. He is devastated.”
Sylvia allowed herself a slight smile. “I somehow find it difficult to imagine that Roo said it in quite that fashion.”
Duncan shrugged. “I thought perhaps if you had no objection, I might offer you my poor company as an alternative.”
She laughed. Taking his arm in hers, she pressed her bosom hard against him as she walked him to the dining hall. “I doubt women find your company poor, dear . . . Duncan, is it not?”
“It is indeed, Sylvia. If I may presume?”
Reaching the dining room, she said, “You may presume a great deal, I think.” She led him to the chair at the end of the table and motioned for him to sit, as a servant pulled out her chair. “We met that night at the party; now I remember.”
Duncan smiled and she studied his face a while.
“Let us eat,” said Sylvia. “And drink. Yes, I find I’m in the mood for a great deal of wine.” Motioning to Duncan’s goblet, she told the servant, “Some of Father’s best.”
As the servant disappeared to fetch a bottle of wine, Sylvia fixed Duncan with as penetrating a gaze as she could. “Good cousin Duncan. Yes, Roo has spoken of you.” She smiled again. “Let us drink a great deal, dear Duncan. Let us get drunk together. And then, later, we’ll think of some other things we might do.”
Duncan’s smile broadened. “Whatever your pleasure, I am at your service.”
She reached over and scratched the back of his hand with her nails. “Pleasure and service; my, what a treasure you are!”
The servant arrived and poured wine, and supper commenced.
20
Discovery
Roo smiled.
He had slept a long night, and had awakened to a house full of noise. But rather than irritating him, the noise delighted him. The baby squealed and made cooing noises, while Abigail talked her baby talk.
Karli seemed her usual subdued self, but smiled at whatever small comment he made. He lingered over breakfast, and finally, when he left for the office, she walked with him to the door, where he paused.
“Would you like to live in the country?” he asked.
“I hadn’t given it any thought,” answered Karli.