Night Shadows Read online

  He drained his wine glass. "And then what?"

  "Whichever one finds her will report to me and I'll bring her back." An egotistical expression captured Kendall's face. "Throughout the years, I've established a system of communicating by use of carrier pigeons. Very effective, I must say. As soon as I hear from one of my men, I'll be on my way to bring her back."

  "Why not have your man bring her back?" Goddess, was this man born with that smug look on his face?

  Kendall smiled slyly. "Because I want the pleasure of capturing her myself."

  Kelvin Connor remained quiet for a few moments, sifting ideas through his mind. He hated to accept defeat, hated even more for someone to succeed where he had failed. "Very well. That's as good a plan as any."

  "Good," Kendall said, nodding. "I'll set the men on the job as soon as I return home."

  Connor remained silent for a moment, frustrated in more ways than one by his stepdaughter's disappearance, thinking of her tempting breasts, her slim hips, that sensual walk of hers, all these qualities that taunted him with a myriad of desires.

  Angus Kendall glanced at the hourglass on Connor's desk. "Best I leave soon. But I wanted to tell you of a recent discovery, something I'd intended to say before your servant arrived." He leaned forward, speaking in low tones. "Wait 'til you hear about the new mineral my workers found at one of my mines."

  "The sunstone? You mentioned that a few days ago."

  "Yes, but let me tell you something new, something we just discovered." He paused, as if for effect. "The stone can make a person invisible when he bleeds."

  Kelvin Connor sat upright. "Impossible!" He narrowed his eyes. "How do you know this?"

  Angus Kendall smiled. "We found this remarkable quality quite by accident. One of my workers was in my office, fingering a stone chip, which cut him. Then he became invisible, surprising everyone, including me."

  "Then how does he become visible again?"

  "When he stops bleeding. But do you understand what this means for us?" His voice rose with enthusiasm. "For years–centuries!—the bandregas have sought dominance over the vampires, who can make themselves invisible. What the bandregas wouldn't give to own this stone! Think of the fortune we can make, you and I! And you know, I have friends and influence among those creatures. They hate the vampires and the vampires hate them. A constant struggle between the two forces. If a vampire bites a bandrega, of course he will bleed. Even the bandregas are not impervious to bleeding. But as soon as the blood begins to flow, they will become invisible and–"

  "Gradually?"

  "Immediately!" Kendall snapped his fingers. "Just like that! So–"

  "Wait a minute. If the vampire still has the bandrega in his clutches–"

  "Even so, easy to escape when you are nothing but a cloud. Try holding on to something intangible. Now what I was saying–if you could fashion a ring or pendant of sunstone, the bandregas can easily escape the vampires by touching the stone as soon as they are bitten." He smiled his crafty smile again. "You and I will make a fortune. Don't you see the beauty of it?"

  "What if a bandrega receives a mortal knife wound?" Connor asked. "Will he still disappear?"

  Kendall shrugged. "Who knows? Something tells me he won't disappear, because his magical abilities will die with him."

  Connor frowned. "But mining the sunstone and getting the gem to me is a long process."

  "Unfortunately, yes. But fortunately, we have enough of the stone mined already to start with, perhaps enough to make one-hundred or so rings. Our gem cutter has already begun work on them. The stone needn't be large. A quarter of a carat will do."

  "Then get these stones to me as soon as possible." Connor rubbed his hands together. "I'll begin work right away."

  Kendall nodded. "The bandregas will pay us handsomely for these jewels. And we will

  have them in our control. Ah, you see how much we can accomplish with this stone?" He rose to his feet. "And now, it's time for me to leave. I'll have a servant deliver the stones to you. I'll send another servant after your stepdaughter." He paused, as if just thinking of something. "Oh, I forgot to tell you. Your share of the bandregas' money is dependent upon our finding Fianna. No Fianna, no money."

  "What!" Fierce anger burned a path from his head to his stomach. He wanted to kill the Goddess-damned prick.

  "You heard me. It's your fault Fianna escaped in the first place." With those last words, he walked out the door.

  Still reeling with fury, he returned to his desk and sank into his chair. He clenched and unclenched his hands, his head pounding. Fianna would be found, he tried to assure himself but failed miserably. He sprang to his feet and paced the floor.

  His mind drifted back to a time years ago, when he'd first become a jewelry craftsman in the village of Uisnech, far to the north. Such pride he'd taken in his profession, such beautiful pieces he'd created! Then one day, he found that the gems he'd bought were not real stones at all, but ones artificially created, not worth a fraction of what he'd paid for them, but so cleverly made they easily passed for the real stone. He recalled the day, as if it were yesterday. One of his customers had come to him, furious and threatening to sue. The woman had taken the ring he'd made to a gemstone expert, who told her the stone was not a real emerald, but a fake.

  Shortly after, he'd gone to see the same expert. Quench crackling, is what the man had told him. "Fools many jewelers," he'd gone on to explain. "Synthetic stones may be heated and then plunged into cold water. Makes cracks in them, so that they look more natural." The expert sighed. "Counterfeiting gems, happens all the time."

  Word spreads quickly in a small village, and within days, all his customers had sued him, for all the stones he'd bought had been from the same dealer, one who had made fake stones. Bankrupt and disgraced, he had to leave Uisnech like a thief in the middle of the night, coming here to Ros Creda, hoping no one here would know of his past. From then on, he'd vowed no one would take advantage of him, but that he would make his money however he could. He'd married since then, his present wife needing a man after her husband's death. Since then, too, he'd established a partnership with Angus Kendall and built up a prosperous business here in Ros Creda

  And now, would his newfound wealth all be for nothing? Much good this gemstone would do him if Fianna were not found. For if that ungrateful girl remained missing, there would be no marriage between her and Angus Kendall. And, as Kendall had made plain, no marriage, no partnership. He clenched his hands and kicked a wastebasket, spilling its contents. Fianna must be found.

  He looked up to see his wife, Fianna's mother, standing in the doorway. "Yes, what?"

  Evelina came in the room and took the chair Angus had vacated. "You know what. My daughter! Where can she be? What has happened to her?" She twisted her hands in her lap, and tears brimmed her eyes.

  "That's what Kendall and I have been talking about. My servant hasn't been able to find her. Angus intends to send his servants–spies—to different cities." He smirked. "He thinks she's in Moytura–"

  "That far away?" Her face held a look of doubt, but hope, too, as though he'd assured her that Moytura was where they would find Fianna.

  "That's what I told him." He smacked his hand on the desk, making Evelina jump. "Ungrateful girl, after all I've–we've–done for her. This is how she repays us."

  Evelina bowed her head. "Understandable, really, if she doesn't want to marry Angus." She took a deep breath. "We misjudged her, didn't realize how much she disliked Angus Kendall."

  He looked at her as if she'd grown another head. "A wealthy man like that? Powerful, too. She must be out of her mind." He stared out the window. But where was she?

  * * *

  Slowly, Fianna came awake, then sat up with a start. Where was she? Ah, yes, inside the cave; the sharp protuberances beneath her back left no doubt of that. She yawned and stretched as memories flooded her mind, of the tall-dark-haired man who had surprised her last night. She turned and stared toward the i
nner recesses of the cave, but only darkness greeted her. Had the man returned, and was he sleeping now? Strange that a man would choose to make a cave his home, even temporarily. She thought hard, trying to recall his name. Ah, yes, Gaderian Wade. Well, it was highly unlikely she'd ever see him again, so no point in remembering his name.

  She pushed herself to her feet and stretched again, twisting from side to side, relieving sore muscles. Time she was on her way to Moytura, there to seek employment. She reached into her satchel and rummaged around for her gray cotton frock, inhaling the sweet scent of lilacs that wafted from the leather bag. She fingered the cake of soap, and a rush of memories filled her mind, of her happy childhood with her mother and real father, her brother, all the good times they'd shared. Sighing deeply, she dropped the cake back among her clothes and slipped the dress over her shift. She gathered her things together and wended her way down the rocky slope to a nearby stream, blinking her eyes in the early morning light. By the stream, she knelt on the rocky ground to rinse her face and hands, cupping the water in her hands to drink. A golden glow touched trees and bushes, the sunlight a welcome warmth after the coolness of the cave. After she completed her morning ablutions, she plodded farther down the rocky hill, past an outcrop of honeysuckle bushes, to the road that led to Moytura.

  Far to the north loomed the Orn Mountains, their lofty peaks reaching past the clouds. East of the mountains stretched the vast Gorm Forest, a hilly region thick with oaks, pines, and hemlocks, a once mysterious region. The torathors lived there, giants once feared in Avador but now protected by royal decree. These same creatures had helped Queen Keriam defeat the evil assassin and usurper, King Midac, years ago in one apocalyptic battle. [nice]

  Miles later, as the ground leveled, she saw the spires of the capital in the distance, the terra cotta roofs of the mansions gleaming in the sunlight. The sight of the capital thrilled her as always, and despite her despondency since leaving home, a feeling of optimism raised her spirits, as though nothing was impossible, as if she held the city in the palm of her hands. Farmers' carts and riders passed her along the way, the road becoming more crowded the closer she got to the city. Dust filled the air, thick and choking, as more riders cantered past, these with a look of importance, prompting her to wonder if they were soldiers or palace officials. She coughed and brushed the dust from the folds of her dress. Trees and bushes lined the road; cottages squatted on small plots of land, and occasional large farms dominated acres of land. The houses became finer as she neared the city, many of these residences having three floors and iron fences, not to mention spacious manicured lawns.

  In spite of her excitement, her calloused feet ached as she shifted her canvas bag from one hand to another. Hunger and thirst tormented her, but how could she pay for food or drink?

  So many sights, sounds, and smells greeted her as she entered the city, although the cobblestones burned her bare feet. Scads of people clogged the streets, men, women, and children wandering from store to store or hurrying along, a look of purpose on their faces. Vendors hawked their wares, and the smell of roasting meats wafted through the air, borne on a light easterly breeze. City sentries in their dark gray uniforms stood guard at certain busy thoroughfares or rode their horses among the busy throngs. Beggars, too, roamed the streets, pleading for handouts, and she regretted she had no money to give them. She feared she might soon be a beggar herself if she couldn't obtain a position. She passed the shoemakers' street, reminding her–as if she needed a reminder–that she must buy a pair of shoes, whenever she had money. Bakeries tempted her with their sweet aromas, intensifying her hunger. Here and there vendors sold cider or lemonade, making her mouth water.

  Moytura, like just about every city and town of Avador, had a community tack board, where people seeking jobs or employers who needed positions filled nailed their advertisements. Other notices of interest were tacked here, too, for example, of a fair soon to be held on the outskirts of the city. Many people gathered around the board, each one searching for positions or tacking their own messages, prompting her to continually move aside. Men and women jostled each other to see the signs, and smaller women had to stand on tiptoe as they craned their necks, everyone anxious to obtain a job.

  First with optimistic purpose, then with a sinking heart, Fianna studied these messages and found none that advertised for a seamstress. Cooks and scullery maids, yes, but no seamstresses. She read the announcements from all sides, from top to bottom, fretting that she didn't have her own sign to nail to the structure. She pondered her predicament, so exhausted and famished, she was tempted to accept defeat, swallow her pride and head back to Ros Creda. But no, she could never deliver herself to her stepfather's wrath or Angus Kendall's false affection. Never again would she endure her stepfather's leering glances and sexual advances. .

  With a heavy sigh, she stepped back, when another sign nearby claimed her attention. "Vampires!" the sign read. "A danger to the kingdom!" She perused the announcement, noting an award of two golds offered to anyone who could bring a vampire to the attention of the authorities. In spite of her depression, she smiled, for it seemed an easy way to make money, if one knew any of the undead. Did vampires really exist? she wondered, for surely such creatures were only a figment of imagination. But if they did not exist, why would the government advertise a reward for their capture? She shook her head to clear it, too famished and exhausted to think lucidly.

  Seeking diversion, she recalled again the tall, dark man who had surprised her in the cave last night. Best not to think about him, far better to concentrate on her own situation.

  After a walk of several blocks, past clothing stores and jewelry shops, she reached a street, appropriately named Tavern Street, lined with inns and taverns, most of which appeared to be respectable establishments. Mostly men trod this street, but Fianna saw an occasional woman, barmaids, she supposed, on errands for their employers. Across from her a hanging sign proclaimed The Snow Leopard, a stone structure with a wide oaken door and multi-paned colored glass windows. She smiled with faint humor. You always wanted to work as a barmaid, didn't you? A sudden decision filled her with renewed purpose. If she failed to find employment serving drinks, she would seek a position as a scryer, for people always liked having their fortunes told. And what better place to try this means of fortune telling than in a tavern, with the many people who surely must frequent the place during busy hours? If she couldn't get a job here, she had no choice but to try other places, but for now, she could barely think past her hunger and fatigue. [nice]

  Fianna took a deep breath and trudged across the street to the tavern, thankful it was mid-morning now, the place not likely to be crowded at this time. She tugged at the heavy oaken door and stepped into semi-darkness, needing time for her eyes to adjust to the dim light. As she had expected, only a few customers patronized the tavern at this hour, only light chatter to be heard. She noted the deer heads that dotted the walls, the twenty or so round tables that completed the main dining room. Oil lamps hung from the ceiling, not lit yet, and apparently not until darkness fell. The aroma of fresh bread floated her way, her stomach growling in response.

  She stood for several minutes, looking around in indecision, when a man in a black tunic approached, two empty beer mugs in his right hand. Tall and thin, his brown hair sprinkled with gray, he gave the impression of quiet confidence. She assumed he was the owner.

  "Madam?" he asked. In dismay, she saw his gaze drift down to her bare feet.

  She offered him her most winsome smile, too well aware it would gain her nothing to wear her troubles on her sleeve. "Sir, I'm seeking employment, perhaps as a barmaid."

  Setting the mugs on an empty table, he shook his head. "Sorry, I can't help you there. We have all the barmaids we need."

  Now was her chance. What would he say? Only one way to find out. "Sir, it occurs to me you might benefit by offering your customers a little extra service, besides food and drink. You see, I can tell a person's fortune by lo
oking into a dark glass. Even my friends–"

  "And I'm king of Avador," he said with a smirk. "Madam, my customers are satisfied as it is. We serve excellent food and drink. This is a respectable establishment, not a place that cheats its patrons with dubious diversions."

  Hurt anger heated her cheeks, but she sought serenity. "Nothing dubious about my skill, sir. If you give me a chance, I can prove it to you." From the corner of her eye, she saw the few customers were staring at her and the owner, although she and the tavern keeper spoke in low tones. "I can look into my mirror and tell your future." She shifted from one aching foot to another, hoping her stomach didn't rumble to reveal her hunger.

  He pulled out a chair for her. "Very well. I'll humor you, since we're not busy now. Sit down and tell me I'll win a million gold pieces."

  Fianna hesitated. "Sir, is there another room we can use? I need absolute quiet in order to scry."