"And your father?"
"The Lords destroyed him. Their sworn traitor used one of these horrid rings of power to control the Prince's son, trying to convince the Prince—Master Karon—that Gerick had murdered my father and betrayed the defenses of Avonar. But all of it was the Lords and their puppet. I offered Prince D'Natheil my talents afterward. I cannot permit such horrors to happen again."
Aimee might have been the very incarnation of Vasrin Shaper in that moment, the stern and flawless female half of our dual god, whose image graced the gates of Avonar to warn away those who would violate our peace. And I had only thought her pretty and kind.
"So you believe this son is worthy of his father and his mother?"
She clasped her hands at her breast and crinkled her brow. "I wish I could find the right words. I don't know Master Gerick well. He is very quiet and shares little of himself in company. But I've witnessed the feeling he bears for these three who have shepherded him from the darkness into the light, and no being of evil could devise it. When I write the image of love on my mind, Jen, it is Gerick's care for his mother and his father and his friend that I model."
"And theirs for him?"
"Indeed. I would give a great deal to help them find him. Master Je'Reint says my Imaging helps him locate Zhid sentries and outposts—he is very kind, of course. But my studies of military history and strategy and the geography of Gondai give me the basic material to work with. I've no such grounding that could tell me where Lady D'Sanya might have taken Gerick."
I propped my back on the window frame and watched Lady Seriana and Paulo shaking their heads. "She said she would bury him in the place where he was 'hatched.' Surely they don't think she would take him across the Bridge."
Aimee turned toward the others, as well, as if she could see them puzzling over this dilemma. "No. Lady Seriana has concluded that D'Sanya will take him to Zhev'Na—that it was his 'birth' as a Lord to which the Lady was referring. But reports say that the temple where he was changed and all the fortress buildings have fallen. Now they're trying to determine the location of the desert camps where he was trained to command."
"I'd think it more likely the Lady meant the underground chambers at Zhev'Na: the Chamber of the Great Oculus or the Vault of the Skull or Notole's den right next to it. Those couldn't have 'fallen' like the rest of the fortress."
"You know these places?"
"I know every place in Zhev'Na. I lived there for six years. In the Lords' house itself for a good part of that time. I've a very good memory, even in cases where I'd prefer not."
"Perhaps—"Aimee bit her lip. "I know you're anxious to leave, but if you could help them make a map . . . You see, it is . . . Master Gerick's friend . . . who is to go after him. He was only in the Lords' house one time. It will be such a danger. What if these Zhid have occupied it again? Or if the Lady herself is there? He must be quick and sure."
"They can't mean for him to go alone. And him not even Dar'Nethi. It's lunacy."
"But they've no one else. With the Zhid on the march, no one can be spared. Prince Ven'Dar, who would gladly have found someone trustworthy to accompany Master Paulo, is gone away, and Commander Je'Reint is burdened with the defense of the city and the raising of troops. No Dar'Nethi would be willing to help Master Gerick, and we've no time to explain the truth to them."
"Well, I'll go then. A mundane can't bumble into Zhev'Na alone." Only when the two at the table fell instantly silent, staring at me as if I'd said I was going to eat the moon, did I realize that I'd blurted out this absurdity at full volume.
Aimee's face blossomed with a radiant smile. "Bless you," she said, quietly enough that the others couldn't hear it. I wasn't sure I was supposed to hear it either. She took my arm and dragged me across the room to join the others.
Why in the name of sense had I done it? As Aimee repeated my offer and, after asking my permission, explained why I was not summoned to war, Lady Seriana and Paulo acted as if I'd taken leave of my senses—or as if I had some less-than-benevolent purpose.
"You're good to offer," said the woman. "But I couldn't ask it." The room was suddenly so chilly, I needed a cloak and gloves.
"It's not just so I can kill him, if that's what you think," I said.
"No, of course not." But her cheeks flushed just enough that I knew she'd considered it.
"And it is not a matter of your letting me or not letting me. I choose for myself. But if all you say is true, you can hardly refuse my help. You believe the safety of Avonar depends on finding out the truth about the Lady, which could depend in great measure on finding your son. I am a true daughter of Avonar. I lived in the Lords' house. I know where to look for him."
"I can find my own way about." Paulo wasn't happy, either.
"Fine," I said. "But will you be able to tell if spell traps have been laid? The ruins of Zhev'Na are not a place to blunder in with great big feet and kick over the stones to find what you're looking for. I've more experience and skill than you'll get from anyone else available."
"Indeed, you must let Jen help you," chimed in Aimee. "I've heard frightful reports of the ruins. Some say they're haunted, that those who venture within never return, or if they do, then they're never the same. You mustn't risk your safety by going less than fully armed, good sir."
Well, he wasn't going to refuse a plea like that. But he scowled at me, and I could guess what he was thinking.
"Indeed, thanks to your friend and the Lords, I have no true talent," I said. "But I do have the same capabilities as every Dar'Nethi: I can call fire, detect enchantments, and hide things—and people—reasonably well if I have no wish for them to be seen. As you can't do these things yourself, you're probably the only person in Avonar who could find my paltry skills useful. Therefore I shall suit you very well. And, of course, whether or not you wish me to come, I shall follow you anyway."
What a silly thing to say. Sometimes I wished I could stop talking altogether.
Lady Seriana warmed a bit at my outburst, smiling as if she understood exactly what I was feeling, which I found quite annoying just when I was doing my best to understand that very thing and having no luck at all. I was determined to go and couldn't say why. But like the mule to which my brothers had so often compared me, I plodded ahead. "And someone ought to be making plans for all those people in the hospice. If the power that keeps them well comes from Lady D'Sanya, and if we believe her power is a danger to Avonar, whether she intends it or not—"
"I am going there myself," said Lady Seriana, all her smiles vanished. "From what you've told us, Gerick's game is up, and therefore Karon's, too. I need to be with him whatever comes."
"You mustn't go there before your son is free, my lady," said Aimee without the least trace of embarrassment at contradicting the formidable Lady Seriana. "Lady D'Sanya must have no reason to suspect we know what she's done. Difficult though it may be, you have to wait."
Lady Seriana folded her arms in front of her as if she were going to argue. But instead she looked at Paulo, who was still tracing a finger over a map. "Twenty-one days," she said. "That's the least, you said?"
Paulo glanced up. "Aye. It's still desert between here and there."
"Twenty-one days and I go to Karon."
He agreed and went back to the map.
"I'll send the Healer, T'Laven, to tell Karon what's happened," she said to Aimee and me. "If you wish, I'll have him take a message to your father as well. And when I go, I'll do whatever I can for his well-being."
"That would be very kind."
I drew her a map of the hospice. Paulo showed her how to find her husband's apartments, and I showed her how to find my father. "He'll be happy to see you," I said. "He's been waiting a long time."