Rasnake(26)

For all that, however, he suspected Cecil would be soft and pliant in bed, and wanted fervently to find out. The urge to steal another kissed was strong, but Tallant resisted. If he pushed too hard, he'd only cause more harm than good. He filled a second glass and set it near Cecil, where he could grab it easily but wouldn't accidentally knock it over.

He smiled when, sure enough, Cecil reached absently for it and drank, never breaking stride in his reading and writing. Tallant continued to watch and eat, until Cecil finally seemed to pause. "So what have you determined?"

"That we are definitely looking for someone with magical ability," Cecil said absently, not looking up. "We knew that, I suppose, but it would take a solid knowledge base to break the wards even just by accident. I wish we had a book on the wards themselves. This is all supposition and guess work, really. But to judge by what we do have, someone likely attempted to alter the wards and instead broke a portion of them. But if the damage was so deep that the obelisk is beginning to fracture…"

"Then it will, as you feared, only get worse," Tallant said.

"And we may not be able to fix it," Cecil finished, and finally looked up. His eyes were dark with worry.

Tallant moved a bit closer, unable to not. "We'll fix it."

Cecil glared. "You can't know that. If what I'm reading is correct, then it would take the blood of whoever broke the wards in the first place, and we don't know who that is."

"Lord Morden," Tallant replied.

"That's impossible."

"No, it's not," Milton said, causing them both to whip around in surprise. He looked between them, and smirked in amusement. "I might have known Tallant would seduce you away with books."

Cecil flushed and made to stand, but Milton grabbed his shoulder and forced back down. "Don't run off, Cecil. All is coming along nicely outside. I came to see how Tallant was faring. If you're helping him, it can only be going very well indeed. What have you learned?"

"That Lord Morden was probably trying to tweak the wards in some way, and succeeded only in breaking them, and his mind."

"Morden is locked up!" Cecil burst out. "We check the locks every single day, morning, midday, and evening."

Tallant motioned to the books. "Put all that aside. Pretend for a moment that the imprisonment was not a factor. Does he fit?"

Cecil was silent for several long minutes, then closed his eyes in resignation and said, "Yes, minus the imprisonment, it could be Marden. He loves magic, he has gone insane, and it happened right around the time the wards broke. He has the knowledge—but not the ability. Assuming the person who broke the wards and the kidnapper are the same person, why would he kidnap the women?"

"Because he has gone mad, and is desperate. I doubt he fully comprehends his own actions anymore.

"Fine," Cecil said flatly. "Is magic unlocking doors, too?"

Tallant smiled faintly. "Oddly enough, it can. I doubt His Grace knows that spell. He uses far more mundane secret passages."

"The secret passage goes nowhere near the tower," Cecil snapped. Tallant and Milton stared at him in shock. "What?" Cecil asked. "You do mean the passage that leads out of the castle, hidden in the chapel right?"

Milton laughed. "Well I'll be damned. It does exist."

Cecil seemed to wilt. "You don't mean that one. Which one, then?"

"The one in the tower, that probably leads to the rest of the castle," Tallant replied, and related their recent midnight adventures.

"Why didn't you didn't fucking tell me—" Cecil stood up, furious.

Tallant yanked him back down again, smiling sweetly. "Sit."

Cecil flushed, and jerked his arm free, but remained seated. "So he sneaks out of the tower, and has the run of the castle—and he has a way out. Right beneath my nose the entire fucking time!" He slammed his fist down on the table. "Damn it!"

"We know now," Milton said. "What we need to do now is get into that secret passage in the tower. That should provide some new clues."

Tallant frowned. "How do we get past the duke, and keep him out of our way?"

"Drug him," Cecil said. "Put it in his evening meal, his late night drink. Keep him dead asleep, and we can do as we like."

Tallant shared a look with Milton, then shrugged. "Sounds good to me, if you think it will work."

"It will," Cecil replied. "I'll deliver his evening meal myself, just to ensure it."

"Good," Milton replied, and clapped them both on the shoulder. "We'll meet at the base of the tower at half past midnight."

Cecil nodded and rose. "I'm bringing Bite and Raze."

Milton started to object, but in the end only nodded. "I can see where they'd prove useful. Where are you going now?"

"Do you want to see the secret passage I know?" Cecil asked.

"Yes," Tallant said, and stood up.

Milton sighed. "Yes, but I had best get back outside. You will have to show me later."

"We will," Tallant said, and cheerfully ignored the look Milton shot him, a warning not to do anything funny while alone with Cecil in dark, confining quarters.

Tallant had no plans to do any such thing, but he would not say no if the opportunity presented itself either.