Neal Barrett Jr - Treachery of Kings

“Tell me about Letitia Louise.”

That threw him off guard, and the smile at the corner of her mouth told him this was clearly her intent.

“I have no idea what it is you want to know. Whatever it is, I feel you should ask her yourself.”

The girl threw back her head and laughed.

“There's no need for that. You've told it all, you see.”

“And what might that be?”

“That she is more than your Mycer servant girl. Not that I'm greatly surprised.”

Finn took a breath. “And if that were so, is it some concern of yours?”

“It might be, Master Finn.” She leaned in close, so close he could breathe the fresh scent of her hair.

“I hope you don't hold human ladies in disdain. Do you find some fault, some blemish in me?”

“Of course I don't. I think you look fine.”

“Indeed?” She slid one hand across her bare shoulder, across her shapely arm. “I fear I don't have any down, any pink and pointy ears… “

Finn felt the color rise to his cheeks and quickly looked away to hide his anger. Here was another, then, one of the great horde who lashed out at others to hide the emptiness in themselves.

“I'm afraid I must pass on the hot spice tea,” Finn said, coming to his feet, “thank you all the same.”

“Doesn't matter, I'm all out of tea.”

“Ah, well then.”

DeFloraine-Marie looked up and held him with her startling blue eyes.

“I hope you don't take me for a fool. You have looked me up and down, you have scarcely missed an inch, and there's little more to see. You find me sweet, you find me fair. I know your desires, yet you dare not loose them, for you know where they would lead.”

She smiled, then, a smile that tantalized, teased, tempted and promised, and all the while was only a mask for her contempt.

“What are you waiting for?” she said, as if she was startled to find him there. “You really must go.”

“As you said, I do find you fair, lady, I am certain that any man would. But you are right, there is nothing for me here.”

He stopped at the door. She was already somewhere a thousand miles away. He turned, and vowed he would not look back at her again…

" I see you found your way back,” Julia said. “You might have let me know you weren't coming, Finn.”

“The King let me out the wrong door, all right? What are you complaining about? You got here by yourself.”

“Interesting scent,” Julia said, lifting her silver snout. “My, a veritable garden of new aromas. Silk. Satin. Candles. A great deal of skin…”

“Go sit somewhere and turn yourself off. It's nearly dawn, I've got to get some sleep.”

“How were the clocks?”

“Loud. Irritating. That's the nature of a mechanical device.”

“I'm sure you don't intend to hurt others with your barbs. I suppose I'll let it pass.”

Finn shed his clothes and sank wearily into bed. Letitia was sound asleep, and he was grateful for that.

Not that I've done anything. Not that I have a thing to regret…

He knew, of course, the truth of the matter was you didn't have to do anything with DeFloraine-Marie to earn a sackful of guilt. Before he'd found true and lasting love with Letitia Louise, Finn had encountered a number of human females of every shape and size, from the loving and the kindly to the outright nasty and mean.

And, within this gender, he had learned there were some who were a race, a tribe, a breed unto themselves. These were females born to haunt men, to drive them to despair-elegant, sloe-eyed creatures who moved with a careless, lazy grace, women and girls with secret smiles and eyes the color of rain. DeFloraine-Marie was such a one as this, and all they had to do was look at a man to cast their deadly spell.

Finn had known a woman once who told him this was not a matter of gender at all. That there was a male of that same cunning species who was the ruination of womankind.

And if he'd been such a man himself? Would he, indeed, have been able to gain such a prize as Letitia Louise?

“Not a chance,” he muttered to himself, just before he fell asleep. “She would have struck me with something heavy, and that would have been the end of that… “

"I should like to have breakfast, at least,” said Letitia Louise, yawning for the second time in a minute and a half. “They do serve a very fine breakfast here, Finn. I don't see why we can't wait for that.”

“Because, love, I have done what I came to do here, and that was to deliver a clock. He doesn't want it, fine. He can toss the bundle out. In truth, I'm rather pleased it turned out the way it did. That wasn't my greatest work, you know. I made it under extreme duress.”

“I thought it really wasn't all that bad, as a fact.”

“As a fact,” Julia said, “it really wasn't all that good. What it was was a piece of-”

“No one asked you, Julia. Letitia, are you sure you have everything, dear?”

“No, Finn, I don't. I had that red valise you gave me for Winter's Day, but it burned up in that balloon. I really don't have anything at all.”

“Yes, well, we'll get you another bag quite soon.”

He looked about the room, though he couldn't guess why. He had nothing himself except Koodigern's dagger, and the clothes he had on, which seemed to be smelling rather stale.

He supposed he should be grateful for that. Letitia's senses weren't as keen as Julia's, but good enough to catch a hint of candles, say, or scents from across the Misty Sea.

The hallway was empty, as it ever seemed to be. And, as ever, the faint, slightly chill odor of the underworld was in the air.

Letitia had suggested they wait for Dostagio or Maddigern to help them find the proper way out. Finn said a definite “no” to that. He'd had enough of them both, especially the bad-tempered Badgie. They could find their own way, even if it took a little time.

And, once they did, he would find a proper breakfast at an inn and purchase a bath as well. That, and some new, fresh clothing would have their spirits up again.

“I believe we turn left here,” Letitia said. “I recall this corner quite well.”

“I have to disagree. We go straight ahead for some time.”

“We go left,” Julia said.

“Absolutely not.”

“Who has the compass in their belly, you or me, Finn?”

“I don't feel your senses are working right.”

“They were working right last night.”

“What?” Letitia looked puzzled. “What's all this about?”

“I haven't the slightest idea,” Finn said. “Julia says whatever comes into her head.”

“I don't think she always does, Finn.”

“All right, most of the time. Which has nothing to do with whether we should-”

Finn stopped. He saw them, from the corner of his eye, both of them, coming from the corridor ahead.

Dostagio and-to Finn's great chagrin-the odious Maddigern himself. He wondered, again, how the kindly Koodigern could be so totally different from his Badgie brother. Still, families were ever at odds, among Newlies and human folk alike.

“How nice of you to take your precious time to see us out,” Finn spoke to Maddigern. “Did you fear we'd try to stay, that we might miss your ever-cheerful ways?”

“I would be pleased to gut you right here,” the Badgie said, with a wary glance at Julia, perched on Finn's shoulder, watching with her bright ruby eyes. “If that'd be convenient, Master Finn.”

“It would be my pleasure, a fine way to start this lovely day.”

“Finn-!” Letitia's look was dark enough to bring rain.

“Maiming and such will not be possible,” Dostagio said, “as you are well aware, Captain/Major Maddigern. Plans have been altered, modified, changed, as it were, by the wishes of His Grace, King Llowenkeef-Grymm. He would have your presence, sir and Miss, in the Great Hall of Tedious Favors and Petitions, which is in endless session right now.”