“Ah, that word again!”
“Consider how Her Majesty would feel were she to know that, not only had Imperial counts been attacked on the highways, but her own personal guard had not even begun an investigation. Surely you perceive what sort of position you put me in.”
“Now you appeal to my kindness.”
“Well, have you any?”
“A little. But I try to be careful how I spend it.”
“And do you not think this a worthy cause?”
“Oh, no doubt it is.”
“Well then?”
The Easterner sighed. “If you truly wish to know—”
“I do, I assure you.”
“I was taking a stroll up the river. I am very partial to the river, and often walk along the banks.”
“A stroll?”
“Exactly.”
“I understand. Now, you say you remember being ten miles north of Profimyn.”
“That is correct.”
“That puts you nearly twenty miles from where you were found.”
“Does it? That is a long way.”
“It seems unlikely that the river carried you twenty miles, wounded, and delivered you up alive.”
“It seems unlikely to me as well, good Captain.”
“And yet, you have no answer to this conundrum?”
“It grieves me to tell you that I have none at all.”
“Then I shall have to discover one.”
“Of course, I wish you all success.”
“May I depend on your cooperation?”
“Entirely.”
“I am gratified to hear it.”
“And I trust you will keep me informed as to what you discover?”
“I will not fail to do so, my lord.”
“How will you begin the investigation?”
“Ah, I must consider that. And as for you, my lord—”
“Yes?”
“Rest now, and trust your physicker.”
Lord Szurke, as he was called, nodded briefly and closed his eyes again. Khaavren, for his part, made his way out of the room accompanied by the physicker.
After saluting the physicker, the captain took himself to the offices of Ensign Shirip, whom he found behind her desk. He motioned for her to remain seated, and himself sat in a chair opposite her. The ensign said nothing, but remained alert and attentive, ready to respond to whatever orders or questions the captain did her the honor to address to her.
Khaavren, for his part, wasted no time before bringing the conversation to the subject of his choosing. “We must see if we can learn what happened to the Easterner. It will be difficult, because he refuses to cooperate.”
The ensign frowned. “That may be a clue itself.”
“It is probable,” agreed Khaavren.
“How shall I proceed in this investigation?”
“Send teams to Profimyn and learn what you can. If the Easterner was, in fact, there, someone will have noticed him. See who else was there.”
“And if we turn up nothing, Captain?”
Khaavren shrugged. “We will see. For now, carry out—” He broke off abruptly, as there was a clap outside the door.
“Who is there?” called the ensign, assuming, correctly, that it being her office, the interruption was her responsibility.
“Erbaad,” came the answer. “With a message.”
“Can it wait until the captain has finished his conversation with me?”
Erbaad, from the other side of the door, said, “I do not know, Ensign, because the message is for the captain.”
Khaavren frowned, and nodded to the ensign, who called to the messenger to enter. When this messenger had entered and saluted, Khaavren said, “You have a message for me?”
“I give you my word on it.”
“Then, you have something to tell me?”
“The captain has understood exactly; I have something to tell you.”
“Very well, I am listening.”
“This is it, then: there is a visitor.”
“A visitor? Then, someone is here to see me?”
“Not you, Captain.”
“Not me?”
“No, Captain. The Easterner.”
“A visitor for the Easterner?”
“Precisely. I took the liberty of informing the visitor that it would require your permission, Captain, to see him.”
“And you were right to do so,” said Khaavren. Then, turning to the ensign, he said, “How long has the Easterner been here?”
“A few hours.”
“And was anyone informed that he was here?”
“No one at all.”
“And yet, he has a visitor.”
“Exactly.”
“This is worthy of remark.” Then once more addressing Erbaad, he said, “Describe the visitor.”
“She is an Issola, Captain, with a strikingly pretty face, marked by delicate brows beneath a high forehead, a sharp but attractive nose, sensuous lips, and a firm chin. Her hair is light, her complexion fair. She is slight of build, but strong; perhaps a little shorter than average at six and a half feet. Her fingers are long and elegant, with calluses that make me suspect she plays a musical instrument. She wears the green and white with leather coverings, as one dressed for travel, and from the scuffs on these leathers she is an accomplished horseman. Her blade is short and heavy, of a simple and functional kind that convinces me she knows its length.”
“I see,” said Khaavren, to whom a picture of the visitor appeared in his mind’s eye as clearly as if he were looking at her. “What name does she give?”
“Lady Saruchka of Reflin.”
“I do not know her. What does she wish?”
“She said nothing except to express her desire to see the Easterner.”
“How did she refer to him?”
“As Lord Taltos.”
“Taltos. Not Szurke. I see. Very well, take me to where she is.”
“This way, Captain.”
Khaavren accordingly followed her toward the entry way, where the lady was waiting, just as described. She rose as Khaavren entered, and bowed with all the grace one would expect of an Issola. Khaavren, returning the bow, said, “Lady Saruchka of Reflin? I am Khaavren of Castle Rock.”
“An honor as well as a pleasure, Lord Khaavren. Naturally, I have heard of you, and all you have done for the Empire.”
“You are kind, my lady.”
“Not at all.”
“I am told you wish to visit the patient.”
“If you please, Captain.”
“May I ask the reason for the visit? I give you my word, I would not ask such an impertinent question did not my duty absolutely require it.”
“Oh, I understand completely, good Captain, and I should have been astonished if you did not ask.”
“You are most complaisant, my lady.”
“I wish to see him because he is a friend, and I have heard he was injured, and thus I wish to assure myself regarding his health and comfort.”
Khaavren hesitated, then said, “I apologize for the interrogation, my lady, but would you be good enough to tell me how it is you learned he had been injured?”
“Through a mutual friend. Captain, I understand that it is your duty to be inquisitive, yet this questioning seems, if you’ll pardon me, extreme.”
“I understand that it might seem so, my lady, but I assure you, there is a reason.”
“Ah, a reason!”
“Exactly.”
“And is this a reason of which, without betraying your duty, you might inform me? For I confess, this has made me as curious as a Hawklord.”
“If you wish to know, I will tell you.”
“I very much wish it.”