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The Wizardwar :: Каннингем Элейн
Страница: 60 из 208Keturah would be confinedto her tower, under Dhamari's care, until the birth of the valuable child. Then she would be turned over to Halruaan law-if indeed she survived the birth with her mind intact-and the child would be Dhamari's to control. No doubt a magehound would detect some spark of magic in the babe, and the child would be rejected by the jordaini order. Everyone would regard this as a tragic waste and look upon Dhamari with great sympathy.
Oh, but he was clever! The only flaw in his plan was Keturah was not yet with child. He probably had spells prepared to entrap her long enough to remedy this lack.
"It was Dhamari who found Whendura, I suppose." Her voice was harsh as a swordsmith's rasp. "Or what little was left of her?"
Hessy nodded, and her eyes confirmed Keturah's unspoken suspicions. "The militia are questioning her servants about who came before him. He has not been truth-tested for her death. The militia did not deem it necessary, as he is a maker of potions and not a wizard known for his ability to summon such creatures."
"Unlike his wife," Keturah said bitterly. "Yes, Dhamari can be very convincing."
"They will test you," Hessy said hopefully. "They will learn the truth."
Keturah shook her head. "He has been giving me potions that confuse magical inquiry. Whendura thought I was with child, and she is among the best greenmages in the king's city. The council will wait until after I have given Dhamari a child. By wind and word, that I will never do!" she swore. "Let the mangy whelp of a rabid jackal find me if he can!"
The servant hesitated, then pressed a bit of bright metal into Keturah's hand.
"Wear this talisman wherever you go," she whispered urgently. "It will tell you when Dhamari is near, or those he sends."
Keturah stared at the servant in puzzlement. "This is a rare and costly thing. How did you come by it?"
The girl attempted a smile. "You pay me well, and my needs are small. I saved every coin I could, hoping that when the time came, I could see you safely away."
"When the time came?"
"I clean his lab," Hessy said flatly. "I have seen the spells he creates. Forgive me for not speaking of what I knew!"
Many wizards enspelled their servants and apprentices to keep them from betraying secrets. Even so, Hessy’s concerns were for her mistress's safety and not her own. Words utterly failed Keturah. She opened her arms, and Hessy rushed into them. For a moment the two women stood clasped in a sisters' embrace.
Keturah pulled away and walked to the open window, chanting a spell as she went.
Oh, but he was clever! The only flaw in his plan was Keturah was not yet with child. He probably had spells prepared to entrap her long enough to remedy this lack.
"It was Dhamari who found Whendura, I suppose." Her voice was harsh as a swordsmith's rasp. "Or what little was left of her?"
Hessy nodded, and her eyes confirmed Keturah's unspoken suspicions. "The militia are questioning her servants about who came before him. He has not been truth-tested for her death. The militia did not deem it necessary, as he is a maker of potions and not a wizard known for his ability to summon such creatures."
"Unlike his wife," Keturah said bitterly. "Yes, Dhamari can be very convincing."
"They will test you," Hessy said hopefully. "They will learn the truth."
Keturah shook her head. "He has been giving me potions that confuse magical inquiry. Whendura thought I was with child, and she is among the best greenmages in the king's city. The council will wait until after I have given Dhamari a child. By wind and word, that I will never do!" she swore. "Let the mangy whelp of a rabid jackal find me if he can!"
The servant hesitated, then pressed a bit of bright metal into Keturah's hand.
"Wear this talisman wherever you go," she whispered urgently. "It will tell you when Dhamari is near, or those he sends."
Keturah stared at the servant in puzzlement. "This is a rare and costly thing. How did you come by it?"
The girl attempted a smile. "You pay me well, and my needs are small. I saved every coin I could, hoping that when the time came, I could see you safely away."
"When the time came?"
"I clean his lab," Hessy said flatly. "I have seen the spells he creates. Forgive me for not speaking of what I knew!"
Many wizards enspelled their servants and apprentices to keep them from betraying secrets. Even so, Hessy’s concerns were for her mistress's safety and not her own. Words utterly failed Keturah. She opened her arms, and Hessy rushed into them. For a moment the two women stood clasped in a sisters' embrace.
Keturah pulled away and walked to the open window, chanting a spell as she went.