Scholar of Decay by Tanya Huff

Author:Tanya Huff [Huff, Tanya]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
ISBN: 978-0-7869-6473-4
Publisher: Wizards of the Coast Publishing
Published: 2013-04-22T16:00:00+00:00

Buttoning his beribboned vest, Dmitri walked out onto the second floor landing and frowned down into the entryway. “Who’s banging on the door at this hour, Edi—Zima veter!” Astonishment jerked out the Borcan exclamation, though upon crossing the border Aurek had self-righteously insisted for fluency’s sake they not speak their native language. Dmitri threw himself down the stairs, touching maybe one in three. “What happened to my brother?”

“The boatman says he came out of the Narrows in this condition.”

“The boatman?” Dmitri frowned, trying to place the man and finally touching a dim recollection of a shadowy, faceless figure standing at the stern of the canalboat. “And you believed him?” He tried to push past, but Edik left him no room. “Get out of my way, and I’ll deal with this boatman. We’ll see what he knows.”

“Had he injured the master, he would not have been so stupid as to bring the body home.” Edik shifted Aurek’s limp weight across his shoulders. His face wore no more expression than usual, but the edge in his voice betrayed a certain amount of inner agitation. “I will continue straight to his bedchamber.”

“You can’t carry him upstairs like that.”

Edik set one foot carefully on the first step. “I believe there is room, sir.”

“No!” Dmitri grabbed his sleeve. “I mean, you can’t carry him like that!” His emphasis laid indignation over horror that his brother should come home in such condition, to be draped like a slaughtered stag across Edik’s broad shoulders.

“If I do not carry him like this,” Edik said, continuing to climb, his sturdy linen sleeve pulling out of Dmitri’s grasp, “I cannot carry him at all. If you will note, sir, his back has been laid open and cannot be touched.”

Dmitri spread his hands, unable to argue but needing to rail at something. “Well, yes, but …”

“If you could keep the master’s skull from impacting with the wall, sir.”

“I can do that!” He leaped forward and gently cupped one palm over Aurek’s head, knuckles brushing the flocked black roses in the wallpaper. Unfortunately, this brought him distressingly close to the three slashes across his brother’s back—their edges drying, their centers still seeping blood. Every movement cracked open the few scabs that had formed. “He looks …” Dmitri swallowed and tried again. “He looks as if he’s been attacked by a big animal of some kind.”

“Yes, sir.”

“But what kind? That’s the question.”

Edik carefully maneuvered down the second floor hall, his steps becoming more and more deliberate as the space grew narrower. “I suggest you ask your lady friend, sir.”

“My lady friend?” Dmitri ducked past Aurek’s head and opened the bedchamber door. “What are you implying, Edik? Why would Louise know anything about this?”

“Servants hear things, sir. And I have heard that both the sestra Renier know everything that occurs in the city.” He stopped, knees pressed against the side of the huge bed. “If you could take the master’s feet, sir.”

Together they slid Aurek facedown onto the bed.

“Should we send one of house

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