After a short pause, she added, "So, what are you going to do?"
Good question, Medb thought. "I honestly do not know. At this moment, I do not see that we have any other choice. But, we have time before I must make a final decision. Let me think about it for awhile."
Sahr said nothing, and Medb used the quiet to concentrate on solving her dilemma.
Morgiana poured sweetened, spiced coffee into a cup as she watched the street up from the inn. She sat in a chair on the verandah in front of a coffeehouse; she had been sitting there since dawn prayer, and it was now mid-morning.
"Something must be wrong," she said; "she's never this late."
Cremedevoyageur looked up at her with half-lidded, dust-blue eyes, from where he lay on her lap. The young tomcat had a rangy, stocky build, with short, fawn-colored fur decorated with bronze tiger stripes.
"Perhaps she is interrogating someone at this moment," he said. "She might not wish to risk losing him just to meet our rendezvous." Morgiana noted that his command of the human tongue was getting better, though he still tended to meow his vowels.
"Maybe," the beautiful master thief said, pensive, as she sipped her coffee. "But I think she would have gotten a message to us in any event."
From behind her, where he perched on the back of her chair, Teehar'owan asked, "Should I go look for her?" He was the size of a jay, with a long tail and crest, scarlet eyes, and gaudy plumage of red, blue, green, and gold.
She turned her head slightly. "That would be futile until we have some idea of where to look, don't you think?"
"Yes, Morgiana."
"He could at least check to see if she returned to her room last night," said Conaed. The Zoog sat beside her on a small table, next to the carafe of coffee. His companions called him Runt, because he was only half the size of his race, but his verdigris-speckled bronze fur was darker and his tarnished-silver facial stripes were bolder.
She looked down into his peat-brown eyes. He was right; the animals had stayed with her when Medb went off on her own yesterday before evening prayer, so none of them would know if she came back at all.
"That's not a bad --" she began, but a shrill whistle from Teehar interrupted her.
"We are being watched!" he piped.
Morgiana resisted the urge to whip her head around. "Where?"
"To our left, across the street, at the perfumer's stall."
Creme shifted position, as if trying to get comfortable. "I see him: young, tall, slim, muscular; short-cropped jet-black hair and beard; dressed in a plain beige bisht over kameez and salwar with mojari slippers; and an oud slung on his back."
"Is he armed?" she asked as she poured more coffee.
"Yes, a shamshir and a kard. But he does not have the bearing of a warrior."
She settled back into the chair, as if relaxing, cradling the cup in both hands. "Teehar, fly off towards the inn, then circle around and get behind him. I want you to follow him; find out if he's in league with the slavers, where he's staying, anything useful."
"Yes, Morgiana," and the bird took wing up the street.
"We could capture him," Conaed said.
"Not out in the open here," Morgiana replied. "That would be better done tonight, once we find out where he's staying."
"That may not be necessary," Creme said; "he's coming towards us."
In slow, careful, fluid motion, Morgiana set down her cup and leaned her head against the back of the chair, closing her eyes as if to take a short rest. But she cracked them open a bit to watch the entrance to the verandah, and she laid her right hand behind Creme's body, out of sight, on the handle of her jambiya dagger.
She saw him step up under the awning and approach, but he walked with a casual, easy gate and kept his hands away from his weapons. Conaed had watched him from the moment he started towards them, but she let the cat stir first. As soon as he began to moan, she lifted her head and opened her eyes all the way.
He stopped three feet from her chair, then lightly touched his chest, lips, and forehead with the first two fingers of his right hand in a grand flourish as he bowed his head. "As-Salaam 'Alayki," he said as he straightened up.
Staying seated, Morgiana repeated the gesture with her left hand as she replied, "Wa 'Alayka As-Salaam."
"I am Harun ibn al-Masudi ibn al-Ja'far, a humble bard from the city of Rayy."
"I am Morgiana of the House of Baba."
"Ah, I have heard of you! You are the greatest thief in all the Six Kingdoms."
Morgiana smiled. "And I have heard of you. You are much praised in the masjid, the bazaar, and the maqhah. I had hoped you would come to the inn where I am staying some evening."
"I would be honored to sing for the Master of Thieves. And for your friend, the magnificent Mayv Hair-rayn."
Her smiled disappeared, and she gripped her jambiya. "So this meeting is no accident?"
"Alas, no. If what I have heard is true, you and I may have common cause."
Morgiana noted Teehar fly in behind Harun and perch on the railing surrounding the verandah. "And what have you heard?"
"I have heard you and she are here to return Sahr'azad to her father and groom."
That did not surprise her. She would have preferred to keep a low profile, but Medb had been so open about their investigation she doubted anyone in Khwarezm was ignorant of their errand.
"What if it were so?"
"I, too, seek the princess."
"You were commissioned by the Sultan as well?"
"Not exactly. I seek her for my own purpose, but I strive after the same goal as you."
"What is she to you?"
"My beloved."
"Ah, I see. You wish to prevent her marriage to the Prince of Rayy."
"Not exactly. He and I have come to an accommodation, but for my part I must convince Sahr to return to him."
"For which he will reward you by not cutting off your head."
"Something like that. He promised a remuneration in gold as well."
"Well, I see no reason we cannot work together. As soon as Mayv arrives we can see if she learned anything last night, then plan accordingly."
"That concerns something else I heard."
Morgiana sat up as cat and Zoog stared at him intently. "What?"
"Outside the masjid just before dawn prayer, I heard a merchant brag that he had caught your friend and sold her to the same slaver who holds Sahr."
Creme growled and Conaed hissed, but while Morgiana was concerned, she was suspicious as well. "Why should I believe you?"
"How could I profit from such a lie? To split you up? I would rather she was with us now. To capture you as well? Then I am a fool, because now you are on your guard. To lure you into a trap? You would not have become a master thief by being so reckless --"
"Enough. Very well, I accept your word, for now. Do you know where they have taken her and the princess?"
"Alas, no, nor did the merchant know."
"You questioned him?"
Harun nodded. "He arranged for the slavers to remove Mayv from the tavern; he had no idea where they took her."
"Had?"
"Yes," he said in a grim voice, "I sent him to Iblis when I was sure he was telling the truth."
Morgiana did not think twice. "Creme."
The cat looked up at her, twitching his salmon-pink nose.
"Meet with the cats of the city. See if they know where this slaver has his compound."
"I'm on it," and he leapt off and ran down the street towards the bazaar.
"Teehar!" she said as she stood and picked up Conaed. The bird flew over and landed on her shoulder.
"As soon as Creme finds out where she's at, I will need you to reconnoiter."
"Yes, Morgiana."
She looked Harun in the eyes as she pulled the jambiya half-way out of its sheath. "Stay close to me, but at the first hint of betrayal I will cut your throat. Understand?"
"Clearly," he said in a firm tone, giving her a quick nod.
From "
The Adventure of the Bloodthirsty Eile"
The sun had set. She could feel strength return to her body. The torpor was wearing off and she started moving, stretching her limbs. Consciousness returned, and her eyes snapped open. She uncurled from the fetal position and sat up, looking around the basement of the abandoned building that was her sanctuary. She heard the squeal and scratching of rats, saw the glow of their body heat as they scurried for cover. The sight of them enflamed her craving; the Hunger exploded in her, driving her to her feet and up the wall to the floor above. She paused when she saw the red glow in the western sky though a broken window, but the sun had disappeared below the horizon. Grinning, she dashed out the door and into the darkened street. The hunt was on.
The night was full of prey. If she could find nothing else, there were cats and rats and raccoons and other creatures of the night, but they were wary, and despite her heightened senses, strength, and speed, they had another sense, one she did not share, that alerted them to her presence long before she sensed them. As such, it was rare for her to catch one of them, unless they were already injured, or sick. But there were others. Large, bipedal mammals, full of blood, known as humans, that were blind to her, as much from disbelief as from dull senses. Taking them was almost too easy. She barely needed to stalk; all she had to do was choose one, wait for it to be alone, then pounce. Subduing them was no problem either, and their blood was rich, hot, and energized, far more satisfying than that of any other animal. It was just that sometimes the Hunger was so strong she could not wait to sate it, or at least take the edge off it.
Fortunately, this night the craving was not so bad. She was able to control herself until she reached her favorite hunting ground.