03 The Battle of Evernight by Dart-Thornton Celia

Author:Dart-Thornton, Celia [Celia, Dart-Thornton,]
Format: epub
Published: 2010-04-10T10:18:45.827000+00:00

"No-yes. That is to say, she lives and all eldritch longings have left her, but she sleeps in a kind of trance from which I cannot waken her." Thanks be to mercy that I should find you both unharmed! Are we safe here? Can we whisper undetected?" "Let us withdraw to the curtained alcove of the books lest something should look in on us." When they were concealed behind velvet draperies, questions began to tumble from Tahquil's lips. By degrees, Caitri's story unfurled. When the Hunt took us, I believed we should be slain," she said, "but the creatures, the terrible thingsV , brought us here and we were taken before him ." "Whom?" "Why, none other than Morragan, Crown Prince of the Fair Realm," said Caitri, and a certain nervous reverence breathed through her pronunciation of that name. "The Raven Prince, he of whom you spoke after we came near Huntingtowers and your memory returned." A millstone thumped against the back of Tahquil's chest. "And how did he deal with you?" ,"We were questioned-not by the prince, but in his presence. I think he did not speak to us directly but I, for one, could scarcely bear to look in his direction or to look away either, so I know not where my eyes rested or what I was saying. Never in my life have I felt thus. I was drawn by him, yet terrified all the while, for there is that about him which is truly perilous." "But you were not harmed?" Oh, no. In fact, Viviana was in such a state, 'mewling and fretting,' as one of the attending Fan lords described it, that something was done to her. Whether it was by a slight gesture of the prince's hand or some other means, I know not, but suddenly she quieted and straightened, then curtsied and stood as poised as the trained courtier I first knew her to be. All trouble left her. Glad was I, on beholding this change. She gave answer to each of their questions, and I suppose I did likewise. When he was satisfied, Page 173

the prince dismissed us. We were escorted out of that saloon and simply abandoned." $"Explain further!" Our escort deserted us, and we were left to wander the lofty galleries and passageways and stairs alone." F"With no direction? No limitation?" "No-yes," Caitri repeated. "No wights harassed us, although frequently we glimpsed them passing along the ends of corridors, bent on their own business-disappearing around corners or up and down stairs. Yet, jailers of a sort imprisoned us-barriers we could not see, which prevented us from entering certain quarters, or from gaining access to Outside. Aimlessly we wandered, probing, seeking exit. When we spoke of hunger or thirst, we would enter the next chamber to discover wine laid on a table. When we spoke of weariness, we would come upon divans piled with cushions. We talked of laving ourselves and sunken baths would be filled with pleasant waters. Noble raiment was provided.

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