Carefully, she Read with him. He was Reading northward, to the deserted outlaw camp. It was still empty, but below it, on the road leading to the castle, rode a dozen men.
Strangers, the watcher on the hillside flashed to the one on the castle tower. Merchants, by the look of them.
But Amicus could Read the real threat, miles away, just outside Lilith’s border: a small army, perhaps two hundred strong. Certainly enough to take the castle, provided the Adepts were away!
Astra Read the Master Reader’s indecision-should he call for the guard and give warning? Would he be believed? Besides-he was being held prisoner here. Why aid his enemies? If that army attacked before Lilith returned, what hope had the people around here of defending the castle?
But the invaders were pure savages-if they won, and then found out he was a Reader, they would certainly kill him. Those so-called merchants were scouts for the distant army. He could Read what they discovered, follow them back to their camp, assess their chances-
If it appeared they would win, he would pose as a nonReader and throw in his lot with them while he decided whether to sell them his skills or make his escape. But if Lilith returned before the attack, then he would give the warning, and try to make a powerful friend in the Lady Adept.
Amicus’ self-serving meditations sickened Astra, and she withdrew from his mind lest her feelings give her away to him. The group of men posing as merchants approached the castle and hailed the watch. “Fine goods to offer the lord or lady of this excellent household!” cried their leader-and as he did so, the thought occurred to the two watchmen that their
lady had been remiss in rewarding them lately-they deserved the silver coins the man held out, glistening in the sunlight.
“A small reward for your service, men-get me an audience with the ruler of this land, and you will be rewarded further.” And again, images formed in the men’s minds, of golden coins, of silk for their wives- and of Lilith denying them, taxing them, taking their lands. All lies-but for that one moment, they believed that their mistress had wronged them, and deserved to lose their loyalty.
“The Lady Lilith be not here, sir,” one of them replied.
Not to be outdone, the other said, “No, nor her son neither-but mayhap ol’ Rondivore will trade wi’ ye.
Come in, come in, gentlemen-”
And they led the party inside, where they could look over the plan of the castle, plot their attack.
“Hey! Orfo! Mulbur! Don’t let those people in!” another guard on one of the towers shouted down to the watchmen. “You know our orders-”
And as he reached for his horn to blow a warning, his breath caught in his throat. He choked, gasped for air-but something blocked his windpipe! Face purpling, he fell to his knees, other men in Lilith’s livery running to aid him, pounding him on the back as he coughed and choked.
And Astra realized that a man among the merchants who had looked casually up at the tower was unReadable except physically. The “leader” looked toward him, and he shook his head, obviously not wanting to be noticed as he slipped something to the other man.
“Aye, Seriak,” murmured the ostensible leader, and called, “Ho there-here’s a potion will help that poor fellow!”
It was not the drugged potion, though, that captured Astra’s attention, nor the way the guardsman’s choking fit ceased the moment it was forced between his teeth. No-she was Reading the face of the man they called Seriak, a face which, although now bearded, was burned into her memory so that she would never forget it: the face of Vortius!
Chapter Eight
“So he is also an Adept,” said Zanos when Astra told him what she and Javik had Read. “Of course-
when you told me he was Serafons son, I should have guessed. No wonder he has amassed such power-and no wonder he’s been planning to get out of the empire. He was afraid someone would discover his powers-just as I was.”
“Someone did,” said Astra.
“Who?”
“Portia,” she replied. “It all fits now, Zanos. I saw Vortius outside Portias office the day before you and I met-but it wasn’t the first time he was there. I know I Read him at least once before, but thought nothing of it. Portia thought I knew more, though- such as that Vortius was keeping her alive and healthy with his powers!”
“He’s a destroyer, Astra, not a healer.”
“You use your powers both ways-why shouldn’t he? Portia knew his secret-each had a hold on the other. And-by the gods, they plotted to kill me! Remember how sick I was, when you dared to heal me? Zanos, I’ve never been so ill from a sore throat- but Portia sought to rid herself of me and my wild Reading, because I had accidentally Read too many of her secrets. And Vortius certainly had no scruples about killing someone who might reveal him.”
“Mm-hram,” said Zanos, nodding. “Ard saw you go into Morella’s the day you got sick. He reported it to me, but he must also have reported it to Vortius-he might even have conjured up that rainstorm!”
“Blessed gods-everything fits! When Portia attacked me the day of the games, I fought for my life, and I hurt her badly. She must have sent for Vortius to heal her! I’ve never believed that out of the kindness of his heart he let you have a night to celebrate before he claimed you. He’d have been right there after the games if he hadn’t been called to heal Portia. He probably needed her help to distract some of the Readers so he could make his escape-I’m sure he simply would have let her die if he thought he no longer needed her.”
“Yes,” Zanos agreed. “And now he’s plotting even more deaths. First he will take Lilith’s castle, then he will find a way to get other people into his power- I’ve got to stop him!”
“Revenge?” Astra demanded.
“No! Well, yes, that too-but my wife, surely you can see that Vortius has to be stopped before he gains a strong base of operations such as Lilith’s lands!”
“And at least one Master Reader to aid him,” she said thoughtfully. “From what I saw of Amicus, he’ll go over to Vortius’ side the moment he finds it expedient. It’s a good thing Vortius can’t Read-for if he found that out and added a powerful Reader to his band of minor Adepts, we’d have no chance against him at all.”
“We?” asked Zanos.
“You don’t think I’d let you go without me, do you? After all the lessons in swordsmanship you’ve put me through?”
Trel, Javik, and Kimma also insisted on going along, as did every able-bodied person left alive in the Settlement. To avoid having the watchers report them as mysterious and potentially dangerous strangers, they disguised themselves as traveling entertainers. Most of the villagers could sing and do folk dances well enough to get by, for Zanos and Astra’s music was to be the star attraction.
Kimma demonstrated a wild and sultry dance guaranteed to mesmerize the country lads, while Javik came up with a spectacular juggling act with knives and swords-the rationale for traveling players to carry warriors’ weapons.
When the Dark Moon Reader demonstrated, sending three razor-sharp knives spinning in an arc-adding a fourth-and a fifth-Astra realized that while he concentrated, he became unReadable.
With a flick of his wrist, Javik sent all five knives thunking into the tree stump in a perfect pattern. Then he picked up two swords, tossed one into the air-and caught it on the other, balancing tip to tip!
As he stood balancing the swords, Astra asked, “Aren’t you afraid the audience will guess that you’re using Adept power?”
Without missing a beat, Javik grinned at her. “In these lands, it doesn’t matter. Everybody’s used to minor Adepts. I’m copying a circus act I saw as a boy, inside the empire.” He tossed the swords into the air and caught one in each hand. “When you do it as a performance, everyone assumes it’s faked.”
“Javik,” said Zanos, “why didn’t you tell us you have Adept powers? We’ve heard about people having both-”