Door Into Light by Rachel Neumeier

Author:Rachel Neumeier
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fantasy, High fantasy, Epic fantasy, Sisters
Publisher: Rachel Neumeier
Published: 2019-05-21T00:00:00+00:00

-14-

When Toma Piriodde appeared in the doorway of the Kinsana Suite, Irelle fell back a surprised step, half-heartedly lifting her flute. For the same startled instant, Taudde was also completely unable to adjust to Toma’s sudden presence in the hallway. Then, catching a breath, he might have rewoven the sorcery in which he had captured the two guardsmen, but Toma leveled one stern finger at his chest and ordered, “Cease this immediately.”

Despite himself, Taudde felt his sorcery stumble. He looked helplessly at Irelle, but she seemed as uncertain as he felt.

Taudde lowered his flute.

Both the guardsmen staggered, recovered, and reached after their weapons, but their captain coolly caught them each by an arm, halting them both instantly. He said flatly, “Unnecessary.” Then he said to Irelle and Taudde, “Come.” Then, turning on his heel, he went back into the Kinsana Suite.

The guards glowered murderously at Taudde, but the one with the flute tucked it back in his belt and the one with the sword shoved it back in its sheath. Then they both looked ostentatiously away, staring down the empty hallway, as much as to say to Taudde and Irelle, You aren’t even here.

Taudde exchanged a speaking glance with Irelle and shrugged, leaving their next move up to her. She shrugged back, made a baffled gesture, turned , and followed Toma into the Kinsana Suite, leaving Taudde no obvious choice but to trail after her.

No one was in the reception room. But Tepres and Karah were both in the sitting room, along with Toma Piriodde. The guard captain was standing squarely in the center of the room, his arms folded across his chest, frowning. Karah, in a simple Kalchesene dress rather than her keiso robes, had been perched nervously on the least comfortable chair, but she leaped up when Taudde and Irelle came in. Tepres, also clad in the Kalchesene manner, had been standing beside her with his hand on the back of the chair. Nodding to Taudde, he said briefly, “Not before time.”

“Ah—” Taudde began, and stopped, looking at Toma.

Irelle said accusingly, “You knew Lamanes and his lot were heading up to the tower. I wondered why all your men found Lamanes’ tale so plausible.”

Toma inclined his head to her. He said to Taudde, “You deserve to be left in the tower apartment for the rest of the year, if not for the rest of your life, you young idiot. But under the circumstances, it seemed tactically unwise to leave you there. Letting that pack of young fools up seemed the quickest way to provide you with a token. Other than simply handing you one personally, a solution which would have lacked elegance, as well as . . . plausible deniability. I prefer Lamanes rather than myself be required to explain your disappearance to Manaskes.”

Taudde stared at him. He asked finally, “How is Grandfather?”

“Improving,” Toma said coolly. “He is sometimes awake and occasionally lucid. However, just at the moment, I don’t believe he would benefit from being forced to deal with the numerous idiocies of his various relatives.

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