Blade Singer

  Finally the coach turned into the courtyard of a big, two-story rambling stone building. As the coach drew to a halt, Gaudulfus gave a gusty sigh and swung the door open. "Here we are."

  Manny jumped down first. The inn had big multi-paned glass windows, the shutters open to the late afternoon sun. A big tree shaded the courtyard and vines climbed the walls to the slate-shingled roof. More spriggans hurried from the stables to unhitch the horses. Manny said, "Wow, this place looks really cool."

  "It's the tree, lad," said Gaudulfus, gallantly helping Adriana out of the coach, though it really didn't look like she wanted the help. "Its shade keeps the sun off the inn while the spacious windows allow the evening breeze to flow through the interior."

  Manny smiled. "No, I meant it's really nice. That's what 'cool' means where I come from. It's a big compliment."

  "Ah, I see. Well, thank you. You're certainly the most well-mannered goblin I've ever met."

  "That's because I'm not really a goblin," Manny said.

  Etienne swung down from the driver's box. "So you said." He gave the wary Adriana a cautious nod. "Let's go inside and discuss it."

  ****

  They ended up sitting around a table in one of the inn's private dining rooms, with a fire in the small hearth and wine, bread, and cheese on the table. They had all been served large bowls of really good lamb stew, though it wasn't as spicy as the one Tia Licha liked to make. Adriana had barely touched hers. It didn't go to waste, however, as Gaudulfus politely finished it off for her, taking his personal tally of bowls devoured to an even half a dozen. Manny had asked for a cup of water instead of wine, which Gaudulfus and Etienne seemed to find really odd. But Manny didn't want to take a chance on getting drunk, not when he still had to convince them he was telling the truth, and there was a possibility they would be attacked by trolls and Redcaps again.

  As the light outside the windows dimmed to early evening, Manny told them the whole story from the beginning, from when he had found the book in the bookstore. Etienne listened intently, frowning in thought. Gaudulfus smiled occasionally, but Manny still got the feeling that the dwarf believed him. Adriana sat back in her chair, arms folded, her expression set in angry lines. She got really angry when Manny got to the part about Morrigan. She leaned forward, her boots thumping on the wood floor. "Manny, you can't—"

  "I have to," Manny told her. He had had time to think all this out on the coach ride. "She's not going to let us go, no matter how far or how fast we run, you know that. And now that Lothair's seen us with the Chevaliers, there's no way she's going to believe we haven't told them everything. So we might as well tell them everything." He had seen enough TV detective shows to know this was true.

  Adriana blew out an exasperated puff of air and turned away, rocking her chair back and forth. By the time Manny had finished, Adriana was pacing the floor, refusing to meet his gaze.

  Etienne and Gaudulfus shared a long look. "What do you think, Gaudulfus?"

  The dwarf barked out a booming laugh, slapping the table with his meaty hand. "Oberon's blood! I think that's the most amazing story I've ever heard, and I've heard some truly astounding tales in my time."

  "But you believe me, right?" said Manny, watching them anxiously.

  Gaudulfus got to his feet and clapped him on the back. "Every word, my boy, every word."

  Manny turned hopefully to Etienne. "What about you?"

  He leaned forward, fixing Manny with his gaze, chewing thoughtfully at his lower lip. Manny couldn't believe it. In that moment, Etienne looked exactly like his dad; those intense blue eyes searched for some hidden answer in Manny's expression, his mouth twisted. Manny fought an urge to reach out and touch Etienne's arm.

  Finally, Etienne leaned back and nodded. "Aye, I believe you are telling the truth."

  Gaudulfus moved around the room, lighting the candles with a spill of twisted paper. Manny smiled at Adriana, who had stopped pacing and was now gnawing her thumbnail. "See? I told you they'd believe me. And they'll help us." He glanced back at Etienne. "Uh, you will help us, right?"

  Etienne took his empty mug and poured himself more wine. "That is another matter entirely. I'm not sure if we can help you. We're not magicians." When he saw Manny's crestfallen look, he added, "But we'll certainly do what we can. At the very least, I intend to find out why the Minister's Guards were so eager to arrest you."

  "Indeed," added Gaudulfus, tossing the spill into the fire and coming back to sit down. "Magneric's interest can only mean that he is somehow aware of this boy's amazing story. Could he be behind the magic that brought him here?"

  Looking over at Adriana, Etienne said, "Tell us what you know about Morrigan's scheme. What does she intend to do?"

  Crossing her arms, Adriana shrugged. "I don't know. She didn't share her secrets with me."

  "Could her darkling sorcery be responsible for bringing Manny here?" asked Gaudulfus, watching her thoughtfully.

  Adriana shook her head. "I don't think she knew what had happened to Remy—" She frowned and rubbed her forehead. "I mean, Manny."

  "But I think she knew I wasn't Remy," added Manny. "I got that feeling from her somehow."

  "Could she be in league with Magneric?" Gaudulfus said, his eyes gleaming as if the notion was exciting instead of frightening.

  "It's a distinct possibility." Etienne sounded considerably more worried. "We must find a way to discover Morrigan's plot. Whatever it is, it's no doubt sinister. It could also be the key to helping Manny return to his own realm."

  Etienne stood and faced Adriana. "You must tell us what you know of Morrigan and the Hands of Shadow." His tone was insistent and Manny could see that it just made Adriana angrier.

  Exasperated, she shook her head and took a step back, holding up her hands. "I've already said too much. I should never have come here. Our lives are in danger and if we don't—"

  Etienne grabbed her wrist. "If you don't tell us everything you know, then we will not be able to protect you."

  She jerked her hand free, her voice tightening. "You can't protect us! You have no notion what Morrigan is capable of. She's an ancient, eldritch creature, as old as the Undercity."

  "We're quite familiar with Morrigan's reputation, my dear," said Gaudulfus, leaning back in his chair as he watched the confrontation. "The Hands of Shadow are well known in Lutetia."

  "And until today," Etienne said, "I'd never heard of a human member of their ranks. The Unseelie do not mingle with your kind willingly. So forgive me if I suspect you possess far more knowledge than you've shared."

  "And forgive me," Adriana snapped, "if I am less than confident in the protection of a bravo who wastes his time fighting pointless duels or carousing like a drunkard in taverns. You admitted yourself that you are no magician."

  Manny winced. He could tell from the tension in Etienne's shoulders that that shot had hit home. Etienne's expression hardened and he stepped closer to Adriana. "Answer my questions."

  Adriana didn't back down. "Show some courtesy like a proper gentleman and perhaps I will."

  Etienne's eyes narrowed. "You are a member of a notorious gang of thieves and murderers and should face the king's justice for your crimes. Given that, I'd say my manner is more than courteous."

  Adriana was clearly furious, and looked ready to punch Etienne. Manny knew he had to do something. If a fight started, they would never figure out what to do. "What about that secret meeting, Adriana?" He pushed to his feet. "I remember you said something about that." Adriana ignored the question, glaring at Etienne.

  "Come, come," said Gaudulfus, his deep voice surprisingly soothing. "Let's allow both our meals and this information to settle a bit before continuing. Besides, I want the lad to try my inn's renowned apple and almond tart." He grinned at Manny. "The best in all of Aquitania."

  Reluctantly, Etienne turned away from Adriana and sat down at the table. He picked up his mug and took a deep drink, clearly just as angry with Adriana as she was with him.

&nb
sp; Feeling guilty for causing the argument, Manny went to Adriana and stood by her side, mimicking her stance and crossing his arms. She gave him a slight smile, and lightly patted his arm.

  "Are you okay?" he asked.

  Adriana nodded. "I just need to feel a cool breeze on my face." She cast a pointed glance at Etienne. "The air in here has become sour and unpleasant."

  "Can I come with you?" asked Manny, a little worried she'd say no.

  Adriana cocked an eyebrow at him. "I think it would be for the best." She turned and strode out of the room.

  Manny smiled half-heartedly at Etienne and Gaudulfus. "Uh, we'll be right back. I'll talk to her. Just wait right here."

  "Where would we go, lad?" asked Gaudulfus.

  "Oh, right." Manny hurried after Adriana.

  Outside the inn, Manny found Adriana leaning on the big tree in the courtyard, staring up at the sky. It was darkening to purple as the sun sank past the trees, the first stars just starting to come out. Don't say the wrong thing, you big dummy, he thought. He took a deep breath. "I'm sorry Etienne called you a thief."

  Adriana glanced down at him. Her expression was very unhappy. "But that's what I am, Manny. A thief. And a very good one."

  "Well, yeah, technically. I guess what I meant was that I wish he hadn't said it to you that way."

  She sighed. "The Sidhe who live in the streets receive far worse than that. You've witnessed and suffered it yourself. The Chevaliers talk about the cities slipping into darkness, but it's not hard to see why. And yet they would never acknowledge that they have had a hand in it." She kicked a tree root, frowning. "Remy wasn't turning into a goblin as a result of an abundance of kindness and charity."

  Manny didn't want to believe that the Chevaliers were part of it. He wanted to see them as heroes, even though he knew nobody was perfect. "But it's the humans who mistreat the Sidhe. I didn't see any Sidhe beating up others."

  "The Seelie hate the Unseelie more than the humans, even though they are kin. Two sides of the same coin." She shook her head and looked away. "You are living proof of that."

  Manny turned that thought over. He was both an elf and a goblin. Maybe that was why Etienne had treated him badly when he first encountered him. But Gaudulfus had taken an instant liking to him. Though even on short acquaintance it wasn't hard to see that Gaudulfus did and said pretty much whatever he wanted. Adriana has to be wrong, he thought. If the Seelie hate the Unseelie it's only because they do bad things, like Morrigan and her thieves.

  He rubbed his eyes, suddenly realizing that he was still very tired. "So you're not going to help Etienne and Gaudulfus?"

  Adriana looked up at the sky again, but gave him no answer.

  Manny fidgeted uncomfortably, wondering if he should just give in. Adriana didn't have a lot of reason to listen to him, anyway, just a kid from another world inhabiting the body of her friend. Remy probably hadn't given her very good advice lately either, what with the goblin transformation going on. Finally, he said, "I don't think they can stop Morrigan without you. But I guess you know that." When Adriana didn't answer, he turned to go back inside.

  She said suddenly, "I made a vow long ago to protect and aid Remy."

  Her voice stopped Manny. He slowly turned to face her again.

  "For better or worse, you are Remy now," she said, her face serious. In the dim light, she didn't look as much like his mother. This woman had had a much harder life than anyone Manny knew at home, and he had the feeling she had done things that she now regretted. "And that means my vow extends to you. But I fear this fight will not end well for me, Manny." She grimaced and shrugged. "Perhaps that can't be helped."

  She pushed away from the tree and walked past Manny. "I'd better go answer your Chevalier's questions before he decides to put me on the rack."

  Manny watched her disappear back into the inn. Adriana's decision to help Etienne should have filled him with relief. But what they might have to do scared him as well, and he found himself wishing that he and Adriana had been able to escape on that skyship after all.

  Chapter Seventeen

  When Manny returned to the private room, Adriana was already talking to Etienne, who sat opposite her. Gaudulfus was listening intently between huge bites of pastry. Manny took a seat near Adriana. Gaudulfus slid a small wooden plate over to him with a piece of the pastry on it. It smelled of spiced apples and almonds.

  Manny reluctantly tore off a small piece with his fingers.

  Gaudulfus was watching him closely, his bushy eyebrows raised in anticipation. Manny chewed on the bit of pastry and managed a smile and a nod at the dwarf. Satisfied, Gaudulfus returned his attention to Adriana.

  Etienne's questions focused mainly on Morrigan herself and not on Adriana's part in past crimes, which was a relief. Adriana had been part of the Hands of Shadow for many years. Morrigan employed Unseelie spies all throughout Lutetia, especially goblin pickpockets and cutpurses, but she also had far more fearsome Unseelie at her disposal, like Lothair and the Redcaps. Although Adriana had never seen Morrigan cast any spells, she was certain that the witch wielded great magical power. She had a way of knowing what you had done even if you told no one, and her enemies had a way of disappearing in the night.

  Manny felt a chill, remembering the hag's eyes and her terrible smile. It was weird that she seemed only interested in thieving. She looked like she should be doing something way worse than that.

  As the interrogation continued, Adriana refused to answer any questions regarding Remy. She declared that topic forbidden and would not budge.

  "But there may be a connection between Remy and Morrigan," insisted Etienne. "It may be the key to why Manny is here now."

  "There is no connection beyond the fact that Remy was another one of her pickpockets," Adriana said. "And if you continue to question me about him, I will leave."

  Etienne glanced at Gaudulfus, who shrugged and said, "Fair enough. Everyone is entitled to their secrets, after all."

  "Very well." Etienne didn't look happy. "Tell us about this secret meeting, then."

  Adriana made an impatient gesture. "All I know is that it's happening at Gassot's place at midnight."

  Etienne frowned. "I haven't heard of that establishment."

  "I'm not surprised." Adriana smiled tightly. "It's a private tavern frequented by Unseelie. It's also reserved for very important meetings between the Hands of Shadow and... others in the trade. Whatever will be discussed there should no doubt be of great interest to you."

  "How many hours before midnight?" Etienne asked Gaudulfus.

  "I'd say three, at the most," Gaudulfus said.

  "Then we should waste no more time." Etienne got to his feet.

  Manny sat up straight. "You're going back into the city? What about us?"

  "You're welcome to stay here." Gaudulfus waved a hand, indicating they had the freedom of the inn. "You should be safe enough. I'll have Othon and my men stand guard outside."

  "That's a fine idea." Adriana glanced at Remy. "We'll stay here."

  "Oh, not you," Etienne said. It was clear he didn't entirely believe everything Adriana had told him. "We need you to lead us to Gassot's and to act as a witness against Morrigan. I want you close at hand for now."

  "You mean to say you don't trust me?" Adriana pressed her hand to her chest, her tone mocking.

  Etienne snorted and headed for the door.

  "Wait, no! I'm not going to stay here," Manny said. "Not if all of you are going back. I'm a witness, too."

  "But you are the one Morrigan wants," Etienne told him patiently. "And Chief Minister Magneric is after you as well. It seems wise to keep you out of their reach."

  "I don't care about that. I'm coming with you," Manny insisted. "Nothing against Gaudulfus' men, but I'm not sure they'd be able to protect me from Lothair or Morrigan's Redcaps."

  "Othon is quite handy with a musket, lad," said Gaudulfus. "I trained him myself."

  Manny shook his head. "I'm not staying behind. An
d if you leave me here, I'll sneak out and follow you."

  Etienne looked at Adriana. "He can be very stubborn," she admitted. "I certainly couldn't get him to stay put."

  "As you wish," Etienne agreed, still reluctant. "But you accompany us against my better judgment."

  "Isn't it always so?" Gaudulfus laughed.

  ****

  They reentered Lutetia through one of the least trafficked gates in a large wagon drawn by two draft horses. The back of the wagon was laden with casks of wine, covered by a dirty canvas tarp. Manny and Adriana hid among the casks, bracing themselves as the wagon bumped over the cobblestones. Gaudulfus drove with Etienne on the driver's bench beside him. They had swapped out of their rich silk and linen clothes for rough homespun wool, disguising themselves as country tradesmen. Wide-brimmed hats were pulled low to conceal their faces. Their swords, several muskets, and a brace of pistols lay wrapped in blankets between them, easily accessible should the need arise.

  Suspecting that the Minister's Guards would be on the lookout for Gaudulfus' coach, the dwarf had Othon drive it through one of the main gates into the walled city. The spriggan was to act as a diversion and lead any potential pursuers on a distracting chase before attempting to once again flee the city.

  "What if Othon is caught?" Manny had asked with concern.

  "He's a wily rascal," Gaudulfus had replied. "No doubt he will elude Magneric's halfwits. And if he is caught and imprisoned, I'll stand bail for him after we've settled matters with Morrigan."

  Although that plan had not sounded all that good to Manny, it certainly seemed perfectly acceptable to both Gaudulfus and Etienne. As Manny and Adriana lay down in the back of the wagon, she whispered, "Spriggans are quite clever creatures. I think Othon will be just fine. It's our fates that worry me."

  Adriana hadn't spoken another word throughout their journey, but she spent quite a bit of time peeking out from under the tarp. At one point, she signaled Manny to join her.

  The street they were driving along was wide, lit by torches, but the tall rickety buildings lining it seemed to lean in, as if they were driving into a dark cavern. In the flickering firelight, Manny could see surreptitious movement, as people, creatures, darted in and out of dark doorways, the gaping upper floor windows, and rickety balconies. Manny said, "This street is kind of creepy." And that was an understatement.