'Go and make that tea now, please," said Figgis, shooing her away. He directed Lukien toward another hall. "We can talk in my study, Ryon. Gilwyn, why don't you come with us?"
'I'll have the tea ready straight away," said Mistress Delia, then disappeared down an opposite corridor.
Figgis led the way silently toward his study, not looking back or saying a word until he was sure the housekeeper was out of sight. Then he paused, leaned against a wall, and let loose a giant smile.
'It's you," he sighed. "I can't believe it!"
'Nor can I, old friend," said Lukien, thrusting out a hand. "It's good to see you, Figgis."
Figgis took his hand and shook it vigorously. "You look so different, I hardly recognized you! And that eyepatch... a disguise?"
'Alas, I wish it were. It's the real thing I'm afraid."
The old man's exuberance dimmed a little. "I'm sorry. It must have been very hard for you. Breck's wife came and gave me a letter from him. It said you were in Norvor."
'That's right," said Lukien. "Not the most gentle place in the world, I'm afraid."
Figgis turned to Gilwyn and gave him a hug. "Norvor! When I heard where you'd gone I was beside myself!" He released his embrace and gave the boy a worried inspection. "Are you all right? You weren't hurt or anything?"
'I'm fine, Figgis," said Gilwyn. "We found Lukien and came back as quickly as we could. Breck came back with us. He's waiting for us back at his farm with Baron Glass."
"Who?"
'Baron Glass," said Lukien seriously. "Figgis, he was with me in Norvor."
'Baron Glass? But he's dead!"
'No, Figgis, he's not," said Gilwyn. "I met him. He was with Lukien in Norvor, fighting with Jazana Carr." 'Jazana..." Figgis shook his head and sighed. "You'd better tell me all about it. But not here. I don't want Delia to overhear. Come."
Knowing the way to Figgis' study Gilwyn went first, apparently giving Lukien and Figgis space to get reacquainted. Lukien wasted no time in asking about Cassandra.
'I have to know, Figgis-is Cassandra all right?"
'Near as I can tell, yes. But wait; I'll tell you all about it in the study."
The study, Lukien quickly learned, was a small room made even more cramped by the stacks of books and manuscripts littering the desk and floor. There were two chairs, one for the desk, the other piled with books. Figgis removed these and set them aside in one of the few bare spaces on the floor, then bid Lukien to sit. Gilwyn propped himself comfortably on the edge of the desk. Along the walls, dusty shelves bowed with the weight of fat books. Figgis lowered himself down in his own chair. The leather groaned as he fell into it.
'Tell me about Glass," he said at once. "He's still alive, you say?"
'Alive and well." Lukien quickly explained how he had saved Glass from the Isle of Woe, and how they had been in Jazana Carr's employ ever since. The tale fascinated Figgis.
'Amazing. And Jazana Carr-she treated you well?"
'Well enough," said Lukien. He didn't want to tell too much about the warlady, because somehow it felt like betrayal. "I fought her battles for her and Thorin made her strategies."
'Thorin?"
'Baron Glass. He was close with Jazana Carr. We both were." Lukien paused, noticing Gilwyn's uneasiness. He decided to skip the part about Thorin and Jazana being lovers, and about the warlady's plans for Luria. "Glass returned with me because he owes me a debt," Lukien added. "He didn't have to but I'm grateful for it. I'm going to need all the help I can get. Now, tell me about Cassandra."
Before Figgis could answer, Mistress Delia pushed open the door. In her hands was a tray of steaming tea and cups.
'Here you are," she said cheerfully. "Gilwyn, I brought some of your favorite biscuits." She looked around, frowning at the state of the room. "Look at this place! Why don't you all come into the kitchen and eat properly?"
Figgis groaned and took the tray from her. "Really, this is fine. Thank you, Mistress Delia."
The housekeeper huffed. "Whatever you say. Gilwyn, you're welcome to come into the kitchen when you're done here. I'll fix you something nice." She smiled at Lukien. "Your friend, too."
'What about me?" asked Figgis crossly.
'Drink your tea, old man," said the housekeeper, then turned and left the room. The grin on her face told Lukien she enjoyed teasing Figgis.
'Well, Figgis?" he asked when the woman was gone. "What about Cassandra?"
'She's well, or at least I think she is," said Figgis. "It's hard to tell. I haven't heard anything from her since Gilwyn left to find you. I haven't heard from anyone."
'Not even Lady Jancis?" asked Gilwyn. He cleared some clutter from the desk so Figgis could lower the tray.
'No, not Jancis, not anyone," said Figgis. "I think Akeela's growing suspicious. And Trager's been keeping a tight rein on things."
'So they haven't left for Jador yet?" asked Lukien hopefully.
'No, not yet, but soon." Figgis looked grave as he sat back down in his chair. "Trager is planning to set out in two days."
'Two days? You're sure?"
Figgis nodded. "That's what Akeela told me. He sent a messenger to the library yesterday, telling me to hurry up with my information because he's leaving in two days, with or without my help."
'He knows you're stalling," Gilwyn guessed. He took two biscuits from the tray, giving one to Teku and sampling the other himself.
'He knows my opposition," agreed Figgis. "I haven't been giving him any new details about Jador or Grimhold, mostly because I haven't found any. But Akeela's impatient and Trager's army is all but readyto march." He looked apologetically at Lu-kien. "I'm sorry, Lukien. I can't stop him."
'Then we haven't much time," said Lukien. "We have to get Cassandra out of Lionkeep as soon as we can. Tonight, if possible."
Figgis grimaced. "It's not going to be easy. There's something I haven't told you yet."
'What?" asked Lukien.
'Gilwyn, this is hard for me to tell you," said Figgis. He reached out and gently touched the boy's hand. "Warden Graig is dead."
Gilwyn's face collapsed. "Dead? No!"
'He slipped and fell on some wine," said Figgis. "Broke his neck."
'I can't believe it," said Gilwyn. "When did this happen?"
'A day or two after you left, at night." Figgis shook his head, sighing. "Seems like a stupid way for a man to die."
Gilwyn gave his mentor a comforting smile. "He was old, Figgis. Old bones break easy."
'What a shame," said Lukien, saddened by the news. In the days before his banishment, he'd been close with Graig. He'd even hoped, perhaps foolishly, to see the Head Warden again someday. "But Gilwyn's right, Figgis. If you take a bad fall and your bones can't take it, well..."
'That's not it," said Figgis absently. "I know Graig was old. It just seems a bit odd, the way he died. I know he had some trouble getting around lately, but he wasn't a clumsy man."
'What are you saying?" asked Lukien. "You think something else happened to him?"
'Not just me," said Figgis. "You know how the wardens hate Trager. Some of them think he had Graig killed."
Gilwyn laughed at the idea. "That's ridiculous."
'Is it?" asked Figgis. "Lukien, you know how jealous Trager always has been. He hates anyone with access to Akeela. With Graig out of the way, he'd have one less person to contend with."
The notion was dismaying. Lukien thought about it for a moment, knowing full well the atrocities Trager was capable of committing. But murder?
'I don't know," he said, shaking his head. "Maybe Graig really did slip and fall."
'Maybe," said Figgis. "But the wardens have been on guard since Graig died. They're not letting anyone into Lionkeep without checking them completely first. There's just no way to get a message to Cassandra."
'There has to be a way," Lukien insisted. "I've come too far to be deterred now."
'You can't just walk into Lionkeep and take her, Lukien," said Figgis.
'No, but I wasn't expecting to do that," replied Lukien, losing patience. "I expected you to have some ideas when I got here! Haven't you at least thought about it?"
'Don't bark at me," said Figgis, getting out of his chair. "I've been a little busy trying to come up with a way to keep Akeela from invading Jador! And how was I supposed to know you'd actually show up?
You were gone for sixteen years!"
Lukien groaned. "Great."
'Wait," said Gilwyn. "Maybe the two of you haven't considered a way to get Cassandra out of Lionkeep, but I have." Smiling, he gave his simian companion another biscuit.
.,'xfter another uneventful night in her chambers, Cassandra retired early to her bedroom.
Since her astonishing meeting with Gilwyn two weeks ago, she had once again been forced into the prison of her own home, unable to touch the outside world. Her two brief encounters with the boy had made her hunger for more, yet she knew she could not risk it. So she resigned herself to waiting, not even attempting to contact Figgis at the library to see what-if anything-was happening. Akeela had come to her only seldom over the subsequent days, mostly to torment her with updates on his progress. As the time for his march on Jador drew nearer, he became more and more aloof and moody, more subtly cruel to her. He had not been the same since their argument when he'd torn the curtain between them. His moments of kindness were fewer now. She could hear the growing agitation in his voice, how impatient he was to find the other amulet. In two more days he would leave, he had told her yesterday. And when he returned hewould have the fabled other Eye. No more did he speak of it as a loving promise, though. Now he threatened her with it.
This night, however, Akeela had not come to her bedroom, and Cassandra was glad. She had begun to lose faith in her wild scheme to find Lukien, and now hoped only that Akeela would leave for Jador and that his mad quest would kill him. Surprisingly, her ill wishes for him caused her no guilt. He was insane, she reasoned, and would be better off dead.
It was a shame what had happened to him, though. For that, Cassandra had regrets. She dragged herself into her windowless bedroom, took a sip of cold tea from a cup on her bedside table, then blew out the candle. There was no reason to stay awake and she was tired from thinking too much. Her private wing of Lionkeep echoed with its usual, ruthless silence, making the thoughts in her mind seem louder. Tonight she was plagued with images of Akeela and Lukien, and what she had done to them both. She wanted only to sleep.
Sleep, however, did not come easily. And when it did it was fraught with restless dreams. Cassandra tossed in her sheets for the first hour, trying to banish her phantoms, then heard an insistent voice calling her name. Her eyelids fluttered open to see the dark room and a figure standing over her.
'Cassandra, it's me," said the voice. In her stupor it took a moment to for Cassandra to recognize it.
"Jancis?"
'Yes. Can you see me?"
Cassandra sat up in alarm. "Barely. What's wrong?"
'Look!" said Jancis, holding out her hands. It took a moment for Cassandra's eyes to adjust. Jancis was backlit by lamplight from the adjoining room. In her hands was something small and round.
'What?" Cassandra asked, reaching out for the object. The thing squealed at her touch, making Cassandra jump. "Great Fate, what is that?"
'The monkey!" said Jancis. She hovered over the bed, still holding the object out for Cassandra.
"Remember? From the boy Gilwyn!"
Cassandra blinked uncertainly. "Monkey?" She shook her head, tossed her naked feet over the bedside, and studied the thing in Jancis' hands. Gradually her sight improved, revealing the furry mass in Jancis' hands. It was indeed a monkey.
'Where'd you find it?" asked Cassandra quickly. "Is Gilwyn here?"
'I don't know," shrugged Jancis. "I was asleep myself when he woke me, just a moment ago! He scared me to death!"
'Teku is a she, Jancis, not a he," said Cassandra. "Gilwyn must be around somewhere. There was no note with her?"
'Not this time," said Jancis. "Unless I'm missing it."
Cassandra studied the monkey, but in the dim light could see nothing. She was excited that Gilwyn was back, because surely only he could have sent Teku looking for her, but without further directions she didn't know what to do. She thought about going into the other room where there was light, then realized in a flash what needed to be done.
'The garden!" She reached out and gently touched the monkey, patting its furry head. "Teku, is Gilwyn in the garden? Will you take me to him?"
The sound of her master's name made the monkey bob her head.
'Put her down, Jancis," directed Cassandra.
Jancis replied, "With pleasure," then spilled the furry creature onto the floor.
'Is Gilwyn near, Teku?" Cassandra asked softly. "Is he in the garden?"
The little monkey chattered and moved toward the door.
'What's it doing?" asked Jancis.
'She wants me to follow!" Cassandra took a step toward Teku to test her theory and was rewarded with another movement toward the door.
'It understands you?" asked Jancis incredulously.
'I think so. Gilwyn told me she was smart, and obviously she knew enough to find you. I'm going to follow her, Jancis, see if she takes me to Gilwyn." 'Cass, you can't go to the garden now. You're not even dressed!"
'I have to, Jan." She started toward the door. "Gilwyn's probably waiting for me. Lukien might be with him."
'Wait!" cried Jancis, stumbling after her. "Take slippers at least!"
Cassandra groaned in frustration, located her slippers beside her bed, and hurried into them. "Don't follow me, Jancis. I don't want to make any more noise than I have to. And if Akeela comes looking for me..."
'I'll tell him you're sleeping," sighed Jancis. "Go. But be careful!"
'I will," said Cassandra, then hurried after Teku. The monkey led her from the bedroom into the main chamber, then out toward the open hallway. She moved quickly but with silence, letting Cassandra skulk after her as she scurried through the corridor. Cassandra mimicked her silence. She was chilly suddenly and regretted not bringing a shawl, but she was too intent on reaching the garden to think much about it.