Steven Brust - Jhegaala

The witch left, saying loudly that he would speak with his superiors, and the physicker would hear from them. And there went the leg.

Aybrahmis came back, and listened to my chest with a device that fitted into his ears and made him look like an elephant. He said, "How are you feeling?"

"Better," I managed weakly. "Breathing...easier."

He nodded. "Your immunity is a resistance, not a full immunity, as such things usually are," he explained. I love it when they get pedantic about things they don't know. "And this time," he added, "it saved your life. They attempted to strangle you from a distance. I am going now to see to it that no such attempt is made again."

I moaned and tried a couple of times to speak, eventually succeeded. "In case you . . . fail."

"Hmm? Yes?"

"Wish to see ... Father Noij."

He gave me an understanding nod. "Of course," he said. "I'll have him sent for."

When he had left, Loiosh said, "Well, Boss, if that was an elaborate method to see the priest, it worked, but wouldn't it have been easier—"

"Wait and see," I told him.

"You think this will make the Count attack the Coven?"

"Not exactly. It's a bit more, ah, complex than that."

Aybrahmis was as good as his word: Father Noij appeared in less than half an hour. His expression was reserved and distant; he looked the way you'd look if you were to offer condolences to a dying or possibly dying man. He came up to the bed, and I don't know what he was about to say, because I cut it off with, "In the sacred name of Verra, the Demon Goddess who owns my soul according to the ancient pacts, I demand sanctuary."

When he could talk again, he said, "I thought—"

"Yeah. I'm not actually dying, as it were. Just a simple misunderstanding. Well?"

"Sanctuary?"

"That's right."

He looked uncomfortable. "My home is small, but—"

"But I wouldn't last sixty hours in it. And you'd probably go down with me, not that that takes up a big part in my calculations, to be honest."

"Then—"

"I need to get out of town, out of the county, to a safe place, and I need you to arrange it. In secrecy. Because, I swear to you in Verra's name, if word gets to the right ears that you even know where I am, they will kill you on the way to getting to me. And don't try to get it to them, because you don't have a clue who they are. And if you even think of crossing me, I will kill you, and do not for a minute imagine that I can't. If I am dead, my jhereg will eat your corpse. Are you clear on this?"

His lips worked, then he nodded. "Threats are not necessary, Lord Merss. You have invoked sanctuary in the name of the Goddess"—he made a sign here with his hand; maybe it's a priest thing— "and that is sufficient. Of course I will aid you with everything in my power. The first question is, where should you go?"

"Fenario."

"The city?"

"Hardest place, for them to find me, even if they track me down."

He nodded. "Very well. Now, for getting you there—"

"A boat?"

"Yes, exactly. I can arrange that. When—"

"Tonight."

"Yes!"

"Shut up"

"Then all that remains is deciding now to get you out of here."

"Meehayi will help. Ask him."

He nodded. "All right. When shall we say?"

"Two hours after sunset."

"Agreed. I will be here with Meehayi, and the boat will be ready."

"Look at me, Father Noij."

He did. "Yes?"

"Look me in the eyes, and swear by the Demon Goddess that you will not betray me."

He looked like he was trying to decide if he should get angry, but things were moving too fast for him. After a moment to salve his pride with a scowl (not bad, for an amateur), he said, "I swear by name of Verra, the Demon Goddess, that I will carry out our agreement, and I will not betray you, or may the Goddess take vengeance upon my immortal soul." Then he nodded to me. "I trust that will do?"

"Good enough," I said.

He sniffed and left; Meehayi came in before the door had time to close. "Lord Merss! Are you—?"

"Vlad," I told him. And, "I'm all right," I added, with only a hint of weakness in my voice so I wouldn't have to answer any embarrassing questions just then.

He fussed over me and puttered around the room looking for something to do, then remembered the stew, and asked if I could eat. I allowed as to how I could, so he got me food, and then busied himself cleaning up the mess on the floor. Loiosh and Rocza hadn't left much for him to do. I announced I needed to rest, and he didn't like the idea of leaving, but finally did.

When he had gone, Loiosh said, "It isn't that I'm not pleased, Boss, but do you trust him?"

"Meehayi?"

"The priest.”

"Oh. Yes, I trust him."

"Why?"

"Because I'm not giving him enough time to come up with a justification for betraying his oath.”

"You're sure that will work?"

"Yes."

"Are you lying?"

" I prefer to call it exaggerating."

"Well, if anything does go wrong, Rocza and I—"

"Won't be there.”

"Um, what?"

"I haven't explained your part in all of this"

"I can hardly wait."

"You're going to love it."

"Are you tying?"

"I prefer to call it irony."

"All right, let's have it."

"Second, you'll be following Orbahn after he bolts."

"Uh, what's first?"

"You're going to watch it happen, so I can enjoy it."

"Boss, is this going to work?"

"You'll know when I do."

"What if it doesn't?"

"Then I come back and try something else."

"Boss—"

"Let's not worry about the what-ifs right now, all right? It's time for Rocza to do her part so she can be back here while you're doing yours, or at least soon after. She'll be all right?"

He didn't answer me, but she stood and flew out the window like she knew what she was about. In three minutes, Loiosh told me Orbahn had been found, right in the Pointy Hat, or Inchay's if you prefer, right where I'd first met him. As long as no one noticed her little head peeking through a corner of the window, we wouldn't be losing him. And he didn't, at least as far as she could tell, seem to be upset, alarmed, or have any idea of what was about to happen.

Good.

"All right, Boss. When should I leave?"

"Now. Things should be starting any time. As soon as you pick up Orbahn, Rocza can come back here, as we agreed. And if everything works perfectly, you might even be back before they come to get me."

"When was the last time everything worked perfectly?"

"Go."

He went.

I went over things in my head, trying to see if I'd missed anything, if there were big holes in the plan, or little things that might improve the odds. I couldn't come up with anything, and there probably wouldn't have been anything I could do about it if I did.

For now, it was all working.

We would see. Very soon.

"Okay, Boss. I'm there."

"You know what to do."

"Yeah, Boss. Ready when you are."

"Go," I said.

I relaxed, closed my eyes, and opened my mind to him.

Presently, there came visions.

interlude

I let the breeze take me up over the top, and there is a perch— too narrow to let my feet flatten, but too wide for a comfortable grip. It hurts, but there I stay and watch and wait. Food on four legs walks by below me, as do people, young and old, and I wait—