Knight of Shadows

«That's a hard thing to assess. My perceptions are altered. It's difficult to explain…It's subtle, whatever it is.»

«Fascinating. Can you move yoar awareness into the stone from a distance now?»

«Yes.»

«When all of our present troubles have passed, I'm going to want to test you again.»

«I'm curious myself to know what's changed.»

«In the meantime, there is a need for the Jewel here.»

«Coming through.»

The air shimmered before me.

Ghostwheel appeared as a silver circlet, the Jewel of Judgment at its center. I cupped my hand and collected it. I took it to Dworkin, who did not even glance at me as he received it. I looked down at Coral's face and looked away quickly, wishing I hadn't.

I moved back near Ghost.

«Where's Nayda?» I asked.

«I'm not sure,» he replied. «She asked me to leave her - there near the crystal cave - after I took the Jewel away from her.»

«What was she doing?»

«Crying.»

«Why?»

«I suppose because both of her missions in life have been frustrated. She was charged to guard you unless some wild chance brought her the opportunity of obtaining the Jewel, in which instance she was released from the first directive. This actually occurred; only I deprived her of the stone. Now she is bound to neither course.»

«You'd think she'd be happy to be free at last. She wasn't on either job as a matter of choice. She can go back to doing whatever carefree demons do beyond the Rimwall.»

«Not exactly, Dad.»

«What do you mean?»

«She seems to be stuck in that body. Apparently she can't simply abandon it the way she could others she's used. It has something to do with there being no primary occupant.»

«Oh. I suppose she could, uh, terminate and get loose that way.»

«I suggested that, but she's not sure it would work that way. It might just kill her along with the body, now that she's bound to it the way she is.»

«So she's still somewhere near the cave?»

«No. She retains her ty'iga powers, which make her something of a magical being. I believe she must simply have wandered off through Shadow while I was in the cave experimenting with the Jewel.»

«Why the cave?»

«That's where you go to do clandestine things, isn't it?»

«Yeah. So how come I could reach you there with the Trump?»

«I'd already finished the experiment and departed. In fact, I was looking for her when you called.»

«I think you'd better go and look some more.»

«Why?»

«Because I owe her for favors past - even if my mother did sic her on me.»

«Certainly. I'm not sure how successful I'll be, though. Magical beings don't track as readily as the more mundane sort.»

«Give it a shot anyway. I'd like to know where she's gotten to and whether there's anything I can do for her. Maybe your new orientation will be of help - somehow.»

«We'll see,» he said, and he winked out.

I sagged. How was Orkuz going to take it? I wondered. One daughter injured and the other possessed of a demon and wandering, off in Shadow. I moved to the foot of the bed and leaned against Mandor's chair. He reached up with his left hand and squeezed my arm.

«I don't suppose you learned anything about bonesetting off on that shadow-world, did you?» he inquired.

«Afraid not,» I answered.

«Pity,» he replied. «I'll just have to wait my turn.»

«We can Trump you somewhere and get it taken care of right away,» I said, reaching for my cards.

«No,» he said. «I want to see things played out here.»

While he was speaking, I noticed that Random seemed engaged in an intense Trump communication. Vialle stood nearby, as if shielding him from the opening in the wall and whatever might emerge therefrom. Dworkin continued to work upon Coral's face, his body blocking sight of exactly what he was doing.

«Mandor,» I said, «did you know that my mother sent the ty'iga to take care of me?»

«Yes,» he replied. «It told me that when you stepped out of the room. A part of the spell would not permit it to tell you this.»

«Was she just there to protect me, or was she spying on me, too?»

«That I couldn't tell you. The matter didn't come up. But it does seem her fears were warranted. You were in danger.»

«You think Dara knew about Jasra and Luke?»

He began to shrug, winced, thought better of it.

«Again, I don't know for certain. If she did, I can't answer the next one either: How did she know? Okay?»

«Okay.»

Random completed a conversation, covering a Trump: Then he turned and stared at Vialle for some time. He looked as if he were about to say something, thought better of it, looked away. He looked at me. About then I heard Coral moan, and I looked away, rising.

«A moment, Merlin,» Random said, «before you go rushing off.»

I met his gaze. Whether it was angry or merely curious, I could not tell. The tightening of the brows, the narrowing of the eyes could indicate either.

«Sir?» I said.

He approached, took me by the elbow, and turned me away from the bed, leading me off toward the doorway to the next room.

«Vialle, I'm borrowing your studio for a few moments,» he said.

«Surely,» she replied.