The Merchant of Dreams (Night's Masque, #2)(75)

"So we are to go to Venice after all."

"Of course. We cannot just go home, not after coming all this way."

"We will have to be careful," Sandy said. "We cannot count upon my people to protect us, not if Hennaq petitions them."

"Lord Kiiren would not betray us, would he?"

"Of course not, but it is not his choice alone."

"Then we will have to rely on stealth and guile," Coby said, "and hide our purpose from both the Venetians and the skraylings."

"What did you have in mind?" Gabriel asked.

"A phoenix."

"A phoenix?" His brow creased in puzzlement.

"Ascension Day isn't just about the Doge and the sea. There's a big procession, and entertainments all over the city, day and night. Musicians and players will be flocking to Venice, so no one will notice one more troupe. Our troupe." She bit her lip, hardly able to rein in her excitement. "Suffolk's Men will rise from the ashes."

? ? ? ?
Erishen closed his eyes and let the night sounds wash over him: the girl snoring, the other one shifting on the flea-ridden mattress, mice scuttling across the rafters, the whisper of wings as a bat skimmed past the window. A dog barked, shaking him out of his reverie for a moment, then was silent. Down into sleep he drifted, dark waters pulling him under until his feet touched solid ground. Not water after all, but air, or at least the semblance of it. Not day or night, but a silver-grey twilight forever frozen, colourless, on the brink of dawn. He looked around at the dark landscape dotted with domes of faint golden light, the sleeping minds of the city. Though he scanned them carefully, he saw no sign of the brighter auras of his own people, white or violet in hue.

He stretched arms that became wings, and soared above the plain, wheeling over the barren darkness of the sea, heading north towards Venice. The cities were closer here than in the waking world, drawn together by bonds of blood and faith, and it took him only minutes to reach Venice, laid out beneath him like a jewelled carving. He drifted, letting his aura disperse a little so that he was just one more blur of light in the eternal firmament. It was harder to think clearly in this state, but also harder for anyone else to spot him. The lights below shimmered in an ever-changing pattern, flowing like water… For a moment he thought he caught sight of a blue-white spark amongst the gold, diamond-bright, but it winked out again. Did Kiiren stir in uneasy sleep? Or had some sharp-eyed enemy, spotting him, taken cover? The girl was right, he should not show his hand too soon.

With a sigh he skimmed southwards once more, picking up speed as he shaped himself into a Falcon, bright and fierce. As the smaller city came into view, the temptation to plunge down and immerse himself in their memories and longings threatened to overwhelm him. It would not be as sweet as his communings with Kiiren, but there was a raw pleasure to be had from these mortals, playing upon their fears and desires until they woke in a cold sweat to the memory of his laughter. Only once before had he tried it, and then only to save his brother's life, but that had been enough to whet his appetite. He wheeled over the city, looking for a target. There. The girl's plan had been good, but with his help it would be even better.

Coby woke at dawn to find Sandy already up and dressed.

"You're not leaving, are you?" she said, sitting up and running her fingers through her tangled hair. She had slept in her clothes as usual, even though she knew neither man had any untoward interest in her. "I thought you agreed to my plan."

"So I do," he said. "But I need to bathe first. You Christians are filthy creatures."

"I can order hot water brought up here."

"I would prefer to swim, or at least immerse myself." He scratched his scalp. "No wonder you people are covered in lice. I will find a stream, or go down to the sea."

"You can't leave the city, it's not safe." A thought struck her, though it was a poor compromise. She dug in her purse and pulled out a couple of small coins. "There's a Turkish bath near the market square. I believe they have pools for bathing."

He looked sceptical, but took the proffered coins.

"Just be careful, all right?" she said. "I am not entirely sure those places are… respectable."

"I have no interest in rutting with one of your people," he said. "My amayi is all I desire."

"Well. Good."

He strode out of the room and shut the door sharply behind him, rattling the bolts. Gabriel twitched awake and groaned.

"What was that?"
"Just…" Sandy? She wasn't sure what to call him any more; he seemed less human with every passing day.

Gabriel struggled upright and swung his legs over the side of the bed, wincing as his left foot touched the floor.

"So," he said after a jaw-cracking yawn, "today's the day that Suffolk's Men are reborn."

Coby made an affirmative noise and turned her back whilst he dressed. Seeing men half-naked had never bothered her when she was in a tiring-house helping actors into their costumes, but in the intimacy of a bedchamber it felt quite wrong to stand and watch.

"Of course we can't call ourselves Suffolk's Men any more," she said over her shoulder. "Anyway, Grey is the last person I would want to claim as a patron."

"How about 'Raleigh's Men'? I dare say he's the one who'll be paying for all this, one way or another."