Lorimal's Chalice

Part Three - The Traitor

by Jane Fletcher

        Before long Tevi returned. The dirt and tar of the docks were gone. Wet hair was plastered to her head. She was rubbing it vigorously with the driest corner of her towel, when the door opened and one of her roommates entered.
        "I've got a present for Klara." he announced brightly, pulling open a small square of tarpaulin to reveal a handful of live worms.
        Acting more like an overjoyed child than a hardened warrior, the young man enticed Klara onto his arm then, one at a time, fed his offerings to the grateful magpie.
        "You know, the way she looks at you. You'd almost think she could talk." he said, as the last of the worms disappeared.
        Tevi stopped combing her hair and looked across to where the magpie perched, clutching the well-muscled forearm of her benefactor. He was right. In Klara's bead-like eyes, Tevi also could see a spark of true intelligence burning - which meant Jemeryl was once again in close link with her familiar. The sorcerer was outside the guarding shields of the school, if not already in Ekranos.
        Tevi finished buttoning her shirt and walked over to reclaim the magpie. Her roommate studied her spruced-up appearance for the first time.
        "You meeting someone?" he asked.
        Tevi nodded.
        "Don't suppose we'll see you again tonight, then."
        "I'm certainly hoping you won't." Tevi threw over her shoulder as she left the room.
        Laughter followed her down the hall.
        There was a scattering of people around the old market square as Tevi emerged from the guildhall: a group of sailors sprawled on steps in the shade, a noisy group of children played with a ball, a pair of mercenaries were arriving. Tevi waited until all were out of earshot before speaking to Klara, perched on her shoulder.
        "Can you give directions?"
        "Sure thing sweetheart. Head for the southern approach and take the third turning on your left."
        In no more than fifteen minutes, Tevi had reached her destination - the Inn of Singing Birds. It was a modest establishment, located on a square in a quiet part of town, well away from the docks. The unremarkable facade blended in with the other buildings. The shutters on the downstairs windows were closed, but the wide double door was propped open by an old stick on one side and a large stone on the other. Jemeryl had evidently chosen their rendezvous in Ekranos to reduce the risk of meeting anyone they knew; the inn was neither prestigious enough for sorcerers nor lively enough for mercenaries.
        Tevi stepped through the door into a long thin room. A row of tables and benches ran up either side. The floor was made up of red and white mosaic tiles and the walls were covered in uneven cream-coloured plaster. In one corner was a polished wooden counter with barrels stacked behind. From what Tevi could judge, the bar was not yet open for business but would be so before long. Tankards were lined up and a waiter was sweeping the floor.
        As soon as he saw Tevi, the waiter put his broom aside and came over. "Excuse me. You are the mercenary who has come to met Madam Jemeryl?"
        The words were said routinely in the lilting local accent, but Tevi could sense the disapproval. It was something she was starting to get used to. Ordinary people dared not show their resentment of the Coven, but they regarded Tevi as a traitor to her own kind. I must be predestined to have folk disapprove of my choice of lover, she thought, but it's an improvement to the islands - they aren't likely to stone me to death over it.
        "Yes, is she about?" was all Tevi said aloud.
        "Please, follow me."
        The waiter set off at a brisk pace across the tiled floor. A narrow doorway at the rear of the bar led to a inner courtyard. From there, a flight of stairs took them to the upper floor.
        "Will you be staying tonight?" The waiter asked.
        "Yes."
        "But you won't be requiring a separate room?"
        "No, thank you." Tevi bit back a less polite reply. She was sure the waiter already knew the answer. He just wanted to make sure Tevi knew that he knew.
        They stopped outside a door. "Madam Jemeryl is in here. She is expecting you." The waiter gave a curt nod and trotted back along the corridor.
        Irritated by his manner, Tevi pushed open the door without knocking. She had a brief impression of polished floorboards, solid furniture and faded yellow walls. Before she had a chance to fully take stock of her surroundings, Jemeryl launched herself from a nearby chair and threw her arms around the startled mercenary, threatening to knock the pair of them over.
        Prompted initially by the need to stop herself from falling, Tevi clung to Jemeryl's shoulders, swaying as she fought to steady her balance. As the risk of imminent collapse retreated, the embrace became more tender. Laughing, Tevi gently pushed Jemeryl away and looked into her eyes.
        "You found your way here all right? I asked the staff to show you up when you arrived."
        "I gathered that." Tevi frowned. "I don't think the waiter approves of us."
        "In what way?"
        "As in someone ungifted, like me, forsaking ordinary citizens and becoming a sorcerer's lover."
        "Some people have overactive imaginations. He probably thinks I've bewitched you and turned you into a mindless slave who must obey my every whim, no matter how debauched or degrading."
        "Better watch out Tevi - I think Jemeryl's starting to get ideas." Klara offered a warning.
        Closing her eyes, Jemeryl snuggled back into Tevi's arms. "I've got the ideas already. Come on - let me show you how much I've missed you."





Continued in chapter 2.

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