Chapter OneDry Red Wine
When Mario was gone I was able to concentrate on the wine. I will deny being any sort of wine expert, but I liked it. It was dry, of course, because sweet wines are for dessert, but it had all these hints underneath that made me think of grassy hills with orchards and wind blowing through them and poetical stuff like that. Knowing what was coming later in the meal, the wine was setting me up, trying to tell me my mouth was safe, and that I shouldnt worry. Nasty, evil wine. I dont know what Telnan thought about it; he didnt say anything at that point, and I wasnt interested in conversation.
I had told Mario that he could find me at Dzur Mountain; now I considered that. Did I have any other options? My grandfather was no longer in the city, and I wouldnt have wanted to stay there anyway, with the whole Jhereg after me. Id been right about Castle Black. And the idea of clapping at Cawtis door and saying, “Mind if I sleep on the couch for a few weeks?” made my skin crawl. No, Dzur Mountain was my only option.
Dzur Mountain.
Home of Sethra Lavode, the Enchantress, the Dark Lady. I dont know, wed always gotten along pretty well; she likely wouldnt mind. And Telnan hadnt responded when Id suggested it. It would at least give me a safe place to stay while I figured out what to do.
Id do what I always did: figure out what was going on, come up with a plan, and carry it out. No problem.
Nasty, evil wine.
Some hours later, I got up from the table feeling pleased. More than that, satiated, the way only an exceptional dinner, where all the pieces come together, and each piece by itself is a work of art, can make you feel. As I remarked to Loiosh, if they got to me now, at least Id managed to get in one good last meal. A very good last meal. Loiosh suggested that that was just as well, as I was too slow at the moment to save myself from an infant who attacked me with a perambulator. Uphill. I suggested he shut up.
Besides, Telnan was there to protect me, if he wasnt in the same state.
I sent Loiosh and Rocza out the door ahead of me, to make sure no perambulators were waiting. None were, so, after giving and receiving warm good-byes from several of the staff and after I paid the shot, including Telnans, we stepped outside.
Nope, no one tried to kill me.
I looked around. It was late afternoon, and the world was quiet and peaceful. Telnan said, “Youre going to Dzur Mountain?”
I nodded.
“Shall I?”
“Please.”
I removed the chain from around my neck (long story), slid it into a small box I carry just for that purpose, and nodded to the Dzur. He nodded back, and then there was a slight tingle at the base of my spine, accompanied by the odd sensation you always get when, in the space of a blink, the world looks different around you. I stumbled a bit as the chill hit my skin and the scent of evergreens filled my nose. Dzur Mountain was all about me. A few years earlier, I wouldnt have been able to have that spell performed on me without undoing everything that Id just accomplished in Valabars. But nownothing but a bit of a stumble and a twitch. I replaced the chain around my neck, and when the stone lay against my skin pulsing in time to my heartbeat, I relaxed a bit. Safe.
Relatively safe.
Comparatively safe.
Safer.
“No ones around, Boss.”
“Okay. Thanks, Loiosh. I guess Telnan didnt accompany us.”
“I guess not. Uh, I know were safe, Boss, but lets get inside anyway.”
There was a slight coating of snow on the ground, so I left footprints leading up to the door. My friend Morrolan had doors that opened as you approached them. It was very impressive. Ive never figured out about Sethras doors: sometimes they opened, sometimes you had to clap, sometimes you had to search just to find them. On one occasion, Id waited outside like an idiot for an hour and a half. I had intended to make some comment to Sethra on the subject, but somehow I never got around to it.
This time, the door didnt open, but neither was it locked. I walked in. I had been there just often enough to make me think I could find my way in without getting lost, but not often enough to actually do so. Loiosh, fortunately, had a better head for such things, and after a few twists and turns and smart-ass remarks from my guide of the moment, we were in one of Sethras sitting rooms; the one where Id first met her, in fact. It was a dark-painted, narrow room, remarkably bare, with comfortable chairs set at odd angles, as if Sethra preferred her guests not to look directly at each other. As I was coming in, I heard what sounded like bare feet running away, and I almost thought I heard a giggle, but I didnt give it too much of a thought. This was Dzur Mountain, where anything might happen and you could hurt your brain trying to figure out the little mysteries, let alone the big ones. I picked a chair and settled into it with a sigh.
Sethras servant, whose name was Tukko, showed up, glanced at me with an expression that fell somewhere between disdain and disinterest, and said, “Would you like something, Lord Taltos?”
“No,” I said. In the first place, I had the feeling that I would neither eat nor move again as long as I lived. And in the second, I wanted nothing to interfere with what was still lingering on my tongue. “But can you tell me if Sethra is about?”
He grunted. “Shell be along presently.”
Tukko shuffled off, fingers twitching, without giving any sign that he cared either way. He was slightly bent as he walked, and there was a twitch in his right shoulder as well as his fingers. Every once in a while I wondered if it was all an act; if the old bastard was actually in perfect health. Id never seen any indications of it, but I wondered from time to time. I closed my eyes and spent a while in happy reverie, recalling all of what Valabars had just done for me.
I heard Sethras footsteps, but didnt open my eyes. I knew what she looked like well enough that the only question would be the expression on her face, and if I guessed somewhere between sardonic amusement and mild surprise Id probably have that down, too.
“Hello, Vlad. I hadnt expected to see you back so soon.”
“I hope it isnt a problem,” I said.
“Not in the least. How was Valabars?”
“You cant improve upon perfection.”
“And you made good decisions?”
“Easy decisions, all of them.”
“I take it you decided to honor me with your presence while you recuperated?”
“Not exactly.” I hesitated, not sure quite what I wanted to say. I opened my eyes. Sethra was in front of me, looking like Sethra. I was right about the expression, too. “You sent me protection.”
“Yes. I hope you arent offended.”
“You know me better than that.”
She nodded. “I trust he was a good dinner companion.”
“An interesting one, certainly.”
“Oh?”
“Dzurlords are more complex than I