The Merchant of Dreams (Night's Masque, #2)(101)

Mal looked round at them all. Three against one, and two of them his elder by generations. How could he say no?

"Very well. But you must let me assist in her capture, and make Hennaq swear not to harm her. And we make no move unless he comes here and demands that Sandy and I go back to Vinland with him."

Kiiren nodded. "Then it is agreed."

Coby left the menfolk to discuss their next move. She did not want to hear any more about this Olivia woman, even though Mal had agreed to help be rid of her. It still meant he had to see her again.

She wandered along the gallery until she found a floorlength window that opened out onto a balcony. If only she could go out there! But someone would surely see her and report back to the mysterious Ten who kept the peace in Venice. True, Zancani's presence here would be reported anyway, but the less anyone knew of their activities inside the palazzo, the better.

"Time passes," Lord Kiiren said, getting to his feet. "You must leave, or Venetian guard will wonder what we do here. At least, Sandy must go now. You stay."

"Now wait a minute." Mal said. "Surely Sandy is safer here with you."

"I do not wish Hennaq to find either of you here, but you cannot leave together. The guard is certain to have counted you as you came in, in case someone tries to stay behind. He will be very suspicious if more humans come out than went in."

Mal grumbled something under his breath.

"I have to leave," Sandy said. "Now that I know Charles is in the city, I will not rest until I have found him."

"Why? Do you want revenge on him?"
"He has something of mine. Of ours, I should say. Something he stole long ago."

Coby turned around, intrigued now.

"If anyone goes chasing after Charles, it should be me," Mal said, "though I think it a good idea in any case. It will lend weight to what I told the chancellor."

"No." Kiiren held up his hands. "You are too hurt… No, do not deny. I study you all afternoon. You are still in much pain from trial."

"I am perfectly well, I assure you."

"Then hold out your hand."

Glowering, Mal stretched out his arm at chest height, but after only a few heartbeats his hand began to tremble. Cursing his disloyal flesh, he let his arm fall to his side.

"Lord Kiiren is right, sir," Coby said. "Sandy knows Charles as well as you, and he can even stand in for you at the embassy; with a haircut and a bit of barbering, you can be made so alike that even your mother could not tell you apart."

"No, it is not safe for him. Berowne is not that stupid."

"At least let me give something for pain," Kiiren said. "I would not have you leave here as you are."

"Very well."

Kiiren disappeared through a door at the far end of the room. They stood in awkward silence for several minutes, until the ambassador reappeared carrying a small cup.

"Drink this," he said, handing it to Mal.

Mal sniffed it and pulled a face. "Another of your evil brews?"

"Just drink quickly, and you may have some aniig to take taste away."

Mal drained the cup, then handed it back to Kiiren with a shaking hand.

"That tasted just as bad as the last…" He blinked, and stared down at Kiiren. "You false-dealing whoresss–"

Sandy caught him as he keeled over.
"You drugged him?" Coby stepped between her master and the skrayling.

"It was only way; he needs rest. Worry not, he will wake in few hours. Go now with your friends, and find this other brother. I will look after Catlyn-tuur."

Leaving Mal in Kiiren's care, Coby went back down to the chamber where the players were waiting. Benetto and Valerio were playing dice together, and Valentina was sprawled on the floor with her head in Stefano's lap. The air was thick with the smell of wine and something else, an acrid woody scent that Coby remembered from the ambassador's quarters at the Tower of London.

"Ah, signorina Giacomiiina!" Zancani cried out as she entered. "What a wonderful performance today. Bellissima! Bellissima!"

Coby shot a glance at Gabriel, but the actor looked as cupshot as the rest of them. What had happened here?

"Ah yes, the performance," Sandy said in a loud voice. He winked at Coby. "Yes, the ambassador was very pleased with the show, and regrets he has no time for another. Sadly we must return to the inn."

"What are you talking about?" Coby whispered as the players prepared to leave.

"I, ah, convinced them that we put on a show for the skraylings, to much applause," Sandy replied. "I thought it best if they were not to suspect anything."

"You mean you've been poking around in people's heads again."

"You make it sound so sordid. I merely got them a little… befuddled and pushed their thoughts in a happy direction."

Coby rolled her eyes at him. It probably was for the best, but that didn't mean she had to like it.

They returned to the inn with the players, where Sandy explained to Zancani that they were leaving the troupe and would not be able to perform with them after the Doge's ceremony the next day. The maestro was surprisingly unmoved by this announcement, and Coby wondered what other ideas Sandy had planted in his head before leaving the skraylings' palazzo. She made a note never to get drunk in Sandy's presence, and resolved to procure one of the protective necklaces at the earliest opportunity.