Tiassa (34 page)

“No, no,” said Khaavren. “It is not for you to ask questions. It is for you to answer them, at least until I have decided what to do with you.”

“It is up to you, of course, but may I suggest that finding us a physicker might not be unreasonable?”

“Cha,” said Khaavren. “None of you are hurt badly.”

“As you say,” said Dury.

Khaavren, then, turned to Lady Saruchka and said, “What is your opinion, my lady? Should I arrest them?”

She laughed. “Aside from the amusement value, no. I imagine they are sufficiently chastised by having been defeated, twice, by an Easterner.”

Dury kept his eyes facing straight ahead, and made no response; but it is undeniable that his face reddened somewhat.

“Very well, my lady. I will do as you say. Naturally, the Empire has no interest in matters within your family, or between you and your House.”

“I am pleased to hear it, my lord Captain.”

Khaavren then turned to Dury, bowed, and said, “You may go.”

For an instant, the Issola looked as if he might say something; then it looked as if he wished to do something; but in the end he simply made a deep courtesy and, enlisting the help of the others, assisted the wounded out the door.

When they had left, Khaavren turned toward Saruchka and said, “Now, then. Will you tell me of the silver tiassa?”

“I confess myself astonished, Captain, that you know so much of what has transpired, and yet have no guess about this artifact for which you have been looking for so long.”

“But, how do you know we’ve been looking for it?”

“Vlad told me.”

Khaavren turned his eyes to the Easterner, who said, “I could not imagine the Empire being so concerned about the health of one poor Easterner—Imperial title or none—as to devote this much effort to the search.”

“And you reached this conclusion when, my lord?”

“When the concert was announced. It was obvious that it was only scheduled in order to bring us all together.”

“And yet, you came anyway?”

“You perceive, Captain, that I am hardly going to pass up an opportunity to see Sara.”

“Indeed? Then, the Lord Dury was not entirely wrong.”

“Oh, he was perfectly right, if my wishes were the only consideration. But perfectly wrong when Lady Saruchka’s wishes are taken into account.”

“That is not necessarily true, Lord Taltos,” said Sara with a smirk.

The Easterner coughed, and appeared to be uncertain about where he was looking. One of the jhereg on his shoulders began to bob its head up and down furiously, almost as if it were laughing. Khaavren, other than a certain disgust at what was being implied, had little interest in the matter. He said, “In any case, it was not dalliance that brought the two of you together two months ago, nor that caused the lady to retrieve your sword—which sword, I perceive, she has returned to you.”

“She was kind enough to do so,” said the Easterner, who appeared to have recovered somewhat, although his face was now as red as Dury’s had been.

“So then,” said Khaavren. “The questions remain—what is the nature of the association between you, and where is the silver tiassa?”

“As to the last,” said Saruchka, “I can tell you that it is where it is needed.”

“The answer,” said Khaavren, “is not satisfactory.”

“I am concerned to hear it,” said Saruchka.

“As am I,” said Szurke.

“You must understand,” said Khaavren, in whom a certain heat was beginning to rise, “that the Empire has invested no small amount of time and effort in this matter.”

“Why?” said the Easterner.

“What do you ask me?”

“Why? What is the importance or significance of this object to the Empire?”

“As to that—”

“Well?”

“It is not my place to say.”

“That is right,” said Szurke. “Only—”

“Yes?”

“Then it is not my place to answer your questions.”

“I understand, my lord. But if you do not—”

“Yes, if I do not?”

“I shall be forced to continue my inquiries.”

“Well.”

“And it is not impossible that these inquiries will involve finding you in order to ask you more questions.”

“Well.”

“And if I must hunt you, I can make no guarantee that others who might be looking for you will not also discover where you are.”

“Ah. I see.” A smile tugged at the corners of the Easterner’s mouth. “You make a strong argument, Captain.”

“And then?”

“You seem determined to discover what was behind all of this.”

“And if I am?”

“It seems odd.”

“And why would it seem odd?”

“Because you already know.”

“You think so?”

“I am convinced of it.”

“What makes you think so?”

“Because you are brigadier of the Special Tasks group.”

“And if I am?”

“You could not have become involved in this without investigating me. I make no doubt that you know nearly as much about me as the Jhereg.”

“I do not deny what you say.”

“Ensign Timmer works for you.”

“And if she does?”

“She would have told you what she knows as well. With all of this information, and with a mind like yours, you cannot have failed to discover the answer.”

“That is possible,” said Khaavren. “Nevertheless, I would prefer to hear it from you.”

“If you wish,” said Szurke. “The boy has it.”

Khaavren nodded. “As I had thought.”

“So then, what will you tell Her Majesty?”

“Yes. I am considering that very question. Tell me, do you know what it does?”

“I do not actually
know
, my lord. I have suspicions.”

“And those are?”

“My lord, to be inspired, well, that is to find the moment when the conscious mind comes together with parts that are unconscious. Is that not true?”

“You speak in generalities.”

“And if I do?”

“I prefer specifics.”

The Easterner shook his head. “I’ve already said enough. Too much.”

“You’re afraid I’ll attempt to take it?”

“If Her Majesty orders you—”

“I doubt she would do that.”

“In any case, I have said all I intend to say on the subject.”

Khaavren bowed slightly to signify that he understood. “Then I have no more business here,” he said.

“Then I will bid you farewell, Captain, for I do have business here.”

“Ah, have you?”

“Indeed. I am going to listen to music.”

With that, Szurke sat down in the nearest chair. Lady Saruchka, smiling at him, turned and stepped back onto the stage, where the other musicians had been waiting patiently as unimportant matters such as life and death were settled.

Khaavren turned his back on the Easterner and the bard and took himself back onto the streets of Adrilankha, where his duty lay.

Epilogue

We met outdoors, beneath a low grass-covered hill. There were a few pillartrees here and there around us, but mostly we were in the open. We sat on the grass and said our various hellos in our various ways.

“How are you feeling?” said Sara.

“I don’t know,” said the boy. “Better, I think.”

“You’re sounding better,” I said. “A lot better. Do you still have dreams?”

He nodded. “Not as often, though.” He looked down at the object in his hand. “How does it work?”

“I don’t exactly know,” I said. “A god made it, that’s all I can tell you.”

“I don’t either,” said Sara. “I’m curious, though. Maybe when you don’t need it anymore, I’ll borrow it for a while and see what I can figure out.”

I shrugged. “For now, if it helps—”

“Someone’s coming, Boss. A rider, just behind the hill.”

I stood up. My hand went to Lady Teldra’s hilt, but I didn’t draw.

“What is it, Vlad?” Sara was standing, too, her hand on her weapon.

“I don’t know.”

“Just one? No effort at concealment?”

“Just one. Colors of the Tiassa. Oh, it’s—”

“Of course it is. I should have guessed.”

“Oh,” said Sara, as he appeared over the top of the hill. “I should have guessed.”

Lord Khaavren dismounted when he reached us, wrapped the reins around his hand, and bowed.

“What a pleasant surprise,” I told him.

“I’ve no doubt,” he said dryly. “Lady Saruchka, a pleasure to see you again. And what’s your name, boy?”

Savn looked fearfully at him, but didn’t speak.

“His name is Savn,” I said. “And if you call him boy again, I’ll—”

“You’ll what?”

I smiled. “Ask you not to. How did you find us?”

“You remember Ensign Timmer, of course.”

“She followed me?”

“Don’t be absurd. She followed the bard.”

Sara turned to me. “I could be a danger to you, if the Jhereg—”

“Life is full of danger.”

“Right, Boss. And you’re—”

“Shut up, Loiosh.”

Khaavren said, “Is the artifact helping him?”

“Seems to be,” I said. “How did you put it together?”

“From Timmer.”

“I should have killed her while I had the chance.”

“That would have been a mistake.”

“I suppose. Why did you follow me here?”

“To find out if my guesses were right.”

“And they are.”

“Yes.”

“How satisfying that must be.”

“Yes. It will provide endless hours of pleasure contemplating it in my old age.”

“My lord Khaavren, are you being sarcastic?”

“I have a dispensation from Her Majesty.”

I couldn’t help but laugh, which made me feel like he’d scored a point. “Well, then. You’ve found what you wanted, now—”

“May I see it?”

I looked at Sara, who looked at Savn, then back at me. She shrugged.

“All right,” I said. “Savn, show Lord Khaavren the tiassa.”

The boy held it out. Khaavren stood over him, then knelt and studied it close-up. “It really is quite remarkable,” he said at last.

“Yes,” I said.

“What exactly does it do?”

“We don’t exactly know. But I’m starting to suspect that it has its own plans.”

“It went through everything just because it wanted to get to this Teckla boy?”

I shrugged. “Any point in a process looks like the process was leading up to it if that’s as far as you’ve gotten.”

“Pardon?”

“I said, any point … never mind. No, I don’t think that was its goal. I don’t know its goal. I’m just starting to suspect it has one.”

“But, what does it
do
?”

“You’re asking me?”

“Yes.”

“All right.” I considered. “As far as I can tell—just guessing—it unites the conscious mind with the unconscious. Sometimes, and in some ways, and under some conditions.”

He frowned, studied the tiassa some more, then stood. “This is beyond the knowledge of a simple soldier.”

“I’ll be sure not to talk about it to a simple soldier, should I meet one.”

“My Lord Szurke, are you trying to antagonize me?”

“I’m not sure. Probably.”

“I am not unaware of what you did for my son. Are you unaware of what my wife did for you?”

That stopped me. After what seemed like a long time, I said, “What are you talking about?”

He shrugged. “Ask your wife.” Then he said, “Well. You’ve had that all along?” He drew and stepped back. “Use it, then, if you’re going to.”

I stared at Lady Teldra, not entirely sure how she had come into my hand.

“Vlad,” said Sara.

I shook my head, took a deep breath, let it out, and re-sheathed Lady Teldra. “I don’t know what—”

“Think nothing of it,” said Khaavren, returning his sword to his sheath. “I shouldn’t have been so abrupt; my apologies.”

“What do you mean about asking my wife?”

“What I said. I’m sorry, Lord Szurke. It wouldn’t be right for me to say any more than that.”

I felt a hand on my arm, and Sara was standing next to me. I looked at Savn; he was pale and his eyes were wide.

“Let’s all sit down,” I said, and set the example.

Sara sat on the grass next to me, with that breathtaking grace; Savn was still sitting. The Tiassa said, “Not me. I’ve found out what I needed; I’ll leave you in peace.”