Marianne, the Magus and the Manticore by Tepper Sheri S

Author:Tepper, Sheri S. [Tepper, Sheri S.]
Language: eng
Format: mobi
ISBN: 9780575116054
Publisher: Hachette Littlehampton
Published: 2011-09-28T22:00:00+00:00

Makr Avehl lay on Marianne’s bed, unmoving, eyes closed. On the table beside him a brazier burned. From time to time, Ellat dropped a pinch of fragrant resin into it to make a pungent smoke. Between such times she moved about, making no unnecessary noise but not trying to be silent. Aghrehond had been stretched out on the living room floor until a few moments before. One moment he had been there, as quiet as Makr Avehl, the next moment he was gone. Ellat had found her eyes brimming with tears. Aghrehond was like a brother, like a bumptious, loving son. As Marianne had been sent, so had Aghrehond been sent. Except, of course, that he had volunteered to go.

She moved back and forth between the two rooms, being sure, tidying up. Makr Avehl would not be disturbed by her activities; she had begun to wonder if he could be aroused by anything at all. Outside the drawn curtains the evening bloomed violet with dusk, mild and springlike.

‘Ellat?’ She heard the indrawn breath.

‘Here, Makr Avehl. Hold still. I’ve kept tea hot for you.’ She slipped her arm beneath his head and brought the steaming cup to his lips as he sipped and sipped again, breathing deeply as from some great exertion.

‘I found her.’

‘I knew you would, if anyone could. Was it as you thought, in some borderland world of Madame’s?’

‘Yes. A black world, of Black Madame. Oh, Ellat, but I will have vengeance on that one. Marianne is nothing to her, nothing at all, but she took her up like a boy picking an apple, only to throw it away after one bite. Bait. Using her to bait me. She hopes to throw me off balance. To make me commit foolishness, risk my people, risk the Cave. She plays a deep and dangerous game, that one.’

‘She tried our defenses once before. I do not think she is eager to try them soon again. She mocks at the Cave, but she could not break its protection.’

‘No. She prefers to bait me with my innocent kinswoman. Well, she was ignorant of much, was Madame. Certainly she did not think I knew Marianne well enough to follow where she had sent Marianne, to follow and let her out of Madame’s place into one of her own. Madame may learn soon that Marianne is gone from her limbo, but she will not know where. We start even, then, neither of us knowing where she is.’ He laughed harshly before sipping again at the tea, swung his feet over the side of the bed and rose. ‘I must try to make a call to Alphenlicht.’

‘Everything will be packed by now. We can go tonight.’

‘I wish we could go. I need the Cave of Light, Ellat. I need the Cave and our people. But if I am ever to find Marianne, it has to be from here.’

‘Aghrehond?’

‘I sent him after her. Poor thing. Everything is twisted where she is, names and people and places and times. All moves as in disguise, strangely warped.

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