Lackey, Mercedes - Novel 03 by Tiger Burning Bright (with Bradley Marion Zimmer)

Author:Tiger Burning Bright (with Bradley, Marion Zimmer) [Bright, Tiger Burning]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

33 LYDANA

As she hurried through the streets, she again began to see the black coats. There were none near the Temple, but then she sighted squads of them along some of the streets, though they showed no interest in the houses on either side.

Eel flitted out of a doorway to join her, in his usual fashion of seeming to appear out of nowhere.

"Best forget Matild Beadswoman," he stated abruptly.

She did not lose a step, but she now expected a new blow.

"What has happened?"

Eel scampered to keep up with her. "The shop is gone. Yet the neighbor buildings show no signs of burning. There is nothing but ashes and an evil smell between them now—open to the sky."

Destruction of the shop. Did that mean they were indeed sniffing close on her trail? She clenched her hands into fists hidden by the wide sleeves of her robe. That ruby droplet was still like a burning brand, but she endured it gladly, being sure that it was a promise of aid that one could hardly hope to gain without the full favor of the Great Presence.

"Those about—Berta, Kassie, Max—" she demanded.

"They keep well within. But so far they are safe," he told her. 'They say that this happened in the night, that there was a sound like the heaviest drum of thunder, and then flame shot high. But it was contained within the shop, as if it were a hearth and it was a properly set fire."

She frowned. "Set by who?"

Eel shook his head. "No sign of any open attack. Berta is nearlv frightened out of her skin, but I learned that much from her."

"A mage device," said Matild slowly. "Such could have been sent whenever we were gone, to be activated later by a spell—I have read of such. Ah, we are indeed returning to ancient dark learning if that is true. But why destroy the shop?"

"We left it by the hidden way, as we always have," returned Eel calmly. "For all the fire-raiser would have known, we were snug in bed and now are wind-blown ashes. Which might be a very good thing—that we are dead as far as thev are concerned," he elaborated.

Indeed it might, though they had no proof that their tracks were so well-covered. The cloister—she must not endanger the Gemen. If that which sought her could trace her— Yet she had to make contact there again. She quickened her pace.

They gained the cloister. She noted that the guards outside had been increased to three men now, and they stood openly, quite close to the doorway, though they made no attempt to stop and question her. And she had sent Eel on to Jonas to pick up any information the taverners own lurkers had been able to gather about the approaches to the House of the Boar. For there—she drew a deep breath—there she would make her own strike.

Once inside the cloister walls, she was again ushered straight to the room of the Reverend One, who was seated by her desk table.

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