Lightnings Daughter by Mary Herbert (android based ebook reader .txt) 📗

The others stared in amazement at the nobleman as he stepped into the lamplight. His travel-stained knee-length robes and leggings had been replaced by resplendent robes of brilliant blue and gold, trimmed with white furs and embroidered with gold threads. Rings clustered on his fingers, and a heavy gold chain with the dolphin emblem of the Kadoa family hung about his neck.

Khan'di smiled at their reaction. "I've been to court this afternoon to pay my respects to the Fon.

That is only right, since I am newly risen from my sick bed."

Athlone cocked an eyebrow. "Sick bed?"

"Before I left Pra Desh I had my seneschal spread the word that I had fallen ill with a contagious disease. My healer has convincingly kept up the lie for all these weeks. Now, at last, I am well. The Fon seemed disappointed."

"Was it wise to reveal your return to health now?" Piers asked.

"It was the only way I could learn what I needed to know." He rubbed his hands together. "We have come just in time." He waited for a few minutes while Sengi bustled around, bringing a jug of water, a couple of leather stools, and another lamp.

When the wool merchant was satisfied, he nodded farewel to his guests. "Until tomorrow. And, Piers, I hope you wil tel me how you came to be among the clans. Good night."

When he was gone, Khan'di lifted the hems of his robes and sat down on a stool. The travelers helped themselves to the food and wine and gathered around him.

Khan'di hesitated another moment before he began. "The Fon has accomplished a great deal while I was gone,” he said. "The entire kingdom of Calah is now completely in her grasp. No one has seen the young prince for days. It is rumored she had him thrown in the pit beneath the dungeon. She has either beggared, bribed, or destroyed many of the old noble Pra Deshian families, and the merchant guilds are almost bankrupt." There was a deep undertone of anger and sadness in his voice, and as Gabria listened to him, she began to understand that Khan'di's motivations were not totally selfish. He truly cared for his city and its well-being. He wanted to protect his power, influence, and wealth, but he also wanted to protect Pra Desh. Perhaps Khan'di had earned Piers's distrust those many years ago in the old Fon's court, but now he was striving to save his city---not just himself---from the ravages of a merciless ruler.

Khan'di went on. As he talked, he restlessly employed his hands to emphasize his words. "As you may have noticed, the Fon has not yet begun her invasion of Portane. She has delayed in order to gather more draftees and mercenaries for her army. I haven't heard yet when she plans to strike."

"In about four days,” Piers said quietly.

"Where did you hear that?"

"In a tavern. It was full of soldiers. They were complaining about leaving home."

Khan'di drew a deep breath. "Four days. That doesn't give us much time."

"Does the Fon still have Branth?" Gabria asked.

"As far as anyone knows. No one has seen him, and there has been no sign of any sorcery."

"He's preparing,” she said, her voice strangely distant. The memory of her dream-vision flared up in her mind, and she shuddered.

Athlone set his cup down and leaned back against a bale. "Preparing for what?"

"The strike against Portane?" Bregan suggested.

"Quite likely,” said Khan'di. "I have arranged a meeting for tomorrow with the masters of the city's guilds. I am going to try to stage a distraction that wil help you enter the palace unnoticed. There you should begin your hunt for the exiled chieftain."

Athlone looked at Gabria. Her face looked so pale, it worried him. "How do we get into the palace?"

he asked the nobleman.

"I am working on that, too,” Khan'di replied. "I have an idea, but I need to locate someone whose help we need."

"So what do we do in the meantime?" Athlone demanded.

"Wait; A day or two at most. We must move before the Fon attacks Portane. If she breaks the alliance of the Five Kingdoms, the whole region will go to war. But we have to lay our plans well. The Fon is no fool." He rose to go, his fine robes gleaming in the lamplight. "I will be back tomorrow if l can." He hesitated, his dark eyes on Gabria's face. "If I don't come back within two days, please try any way. We cannot leave a sorcerer in the Fon's hands."

Wordlessly Gabria held out her hand, palm up. The nobleman nodded and placed his hand, palm down, atop hers. They locked fingers in the clan gesture of sealing avow.

Khan'di, satisfied, left their hiding place.

Athlone waited until he heard the warehouse door shut before he turned to Piers. "Is what he said true?"

The healer put his empty cup down and spoke with regret. "Unfortunately, yes. Perhaps even worse than he told us. The city is on the verge of open rebellion. The people here are terrified, but they've been abused as much as they're likely to stand. One spark will set them off."

Athlone looked thoughtful y at the gap where the Pra Deshian had disappeared. "Do you think Khan'di is about to provide that spark?"

"Undoubtedly."

"I just hope we don't get caught in the flames,” Bregan muttered. The others could only nod their agreement.

CHAPTER ELEVEN

They waited for three days in the wool merchant's warehouse, a wait that quickly became difficult.

The stuffy confines between the wal and the bales reeked of lanoline, and the narrow, enclosed space was like a prison to the roving plains people. They could not talk or move around during the day for fear of attracting attention.

At night they had to stay within the confines of the warehouse. Sengi brought them food and water, told them what news he knew, and gave them what he could to make them comfortable,