Wraith(34)

‘What should we do with him?’ Rymark asked.

‘Pass him over to the goblins,’ came de Florinville’s rejoinder. ‘It’s not what I’d normally suggest but it’s the best option now. Circumstances have changed.’

‘There’s still the possibility that it was the goblins who sent him here to kill you.’

‘Unlikely. Besides, it doesn’t matter now.’

There was a pause. When Rymark spoke again, he was hesitant. ‘What exactly is going on?’

‘My Fior Ghal.’

I pursed my lips. What?

Rymark’s voice rose. ‘No! Her? Are you sure?’

‘Of course I’m sure.’

‘That’s…’ Rymark stopped. He was obviously astonished.

‘I know.’

There was some shuffling. I wished I could see what the pair of them was doing. Was de Florinville going to drag my shadow to the Filits right now? In that scenario I’d have no choice but to spring out and attack, even if it was sure to spell disaster.

‘We should leave the wraith here,’ de Florinville continued. ‘We know he’s safely bound within the circle. I’ll go and tell Ghrashbreg what has happened and get him to deal with the vile creature.’ His voice hardened in a manner that made me shiver. ‘At the same time I can ask him exactly who hurt Saiya and why.’

Rymark’s answer was quiet. ‘And what if it was him? What if it was Ghrashbreg that broke her hands?’

‘I’ll kill him.’

I blinked.

‘I should go to Ghrashbreg,’ Rymark said with an audible gulp. ‘You can stay here with Saiya.’

‘The goblins will listen to me.’

‘Because you’re a Dark Elf and I’m a mere human?’

‘Sorry.’

There was another long pause. Rymark shouldn’t feel too bad about the blood running through his veins. He couldn’t help it – and at least he was only visiting Stirling. He didn’t have to live here. He should count himself lucky; avoiding contact with goblins was always a good thing.

‘You’ll have to tell Prime Minister James about her. This could have implications for the peace process, Gabriel.’

De Florinville snorted. ‘We both know that whatever they’re after, neither the Gneiss nor the Filits want peace. Stay here and don’t let anyone through that door. Saiya must be kept safe at all costs. With any luck I won’t be long.’

‘As you command.’

I heard more shuffling, then the sound of another door opening and closing. I turned, leaning my back against the door. Snooping around and listening in to secrets often raised more questions than answers but rarely were the questions so varied – or so personal. Why was my safety so important to Gabriel de Florinville? The promise I’d extracted from him didn’t extend this far. And what exactly was the Fior Ghal? Marrock would probably know. I wondered if he’d tell me, given what happened at our last encounter. I wondered if I’d survive long enough to ask him.

Rather than let my mind whirl with the permutations of my new circumstances, I left the door and headed for the large, heavy wardrobe in the far corner. De Florinville didn’t strike me as the kind of guy who lived out of a suitcase when he went visiting. When I opened the wardrobe doors, wincing slightly at the creak, I smiled. His clothes were hanging up in neat rows. With my poor dress well and truly done for, I needed something to wear even if it was for warmth rather than modesty.

I selected a white shirt and pulled it off its hanger before shrugging it on and doing up the buttons. It was massive on me, the shirt tails reaching down my to knees. It might have been freshly laundered but there was still the lingering scent of the Dark Elf’s masculinity clinging to the cotton. I paused to inhale before realising what I was doing. Shaking myself irritably, I nabbed a belt and hooked it round my waist. From the long mirror in the corner, the overall effect wasn’t too bad. I examined myself for a moment then retrieved my shoes. I didn’t have all night; Gabriel de Florinville would be back before too long and he’d have Ghrashbreg in tow. I had to vamoose.

Feeling better now that I wasn’t virtually naked, I returned to the door and listened carefully again. When nothing was immediately forthcoming, I twisted the doorknob as quietly as I could then opened the door an inch so I could peer out.

Rymark was sitting in the same chair that I’d seen de Florinville in earlier. It directly faced my trapped shadow, which he appeared to be eyeing with wary malevolence. Given that the shadow was motionless and had been for hours, that seemed fairly pointless to me but I guessed he was taking his guard duties very seriously.

Leaving the door slightly ajar, I considered what to do. In truth, I had very little choice. Sighing, I walked back to the centre of the bedroom, stopped at an antique bureau and scooped up a vase. I hefted it in my hands. It was probably priceless. Hey ho. The base was heavy enough to suit my purposes, even if the rest of it felt fragile. I held it in my right hand and scooted back to the door. Once I was in position, I closed my eyes briefly and sent my consciousness the few metres back to my shadow.

I needed Rymark to face away from the bedroom so, as soon as I felt the familiar joy of stretching into my shadow self, I twitched and turned in that direction. With both shadow hands, I pushed out towards the edge of the circle, feeling the barrier holding me in place.