The Draykon Series (1-3)

Chapter Twenty Three

Llandry rose early the next day after a troubled, restless night. She stepped softly through the house, fearing to find Devary still asleep on the sofa. There was no sign of him, however, and she felt a guilty flicker of relief. She sat down, tucking her legs under her. She was wearing the trousers she had bought at Draetre's night market, and she felt both freed and rather exposed in them.

   A clatter from the kitchen drew her attention, and she wandered thither. Devary stood with a cup in one hand, the other thrust into the pocket of his trousers. He was tousled and sleepy, his shirt untucked and his hair unbrushed. He looked at her expressionlessly, offering no response to her shy smile.

   'Good... morning,' she said, glancing at the dark world outside. 'Not that it seems like a morning.'

   'It's very early, but the sun will be up soon. I'll have breakfast ready in a moment.' He offered her a steaming teapot. She poured herself a cup and sipped gratefully, finding it to be slightly spicy and fragrant. She'd barely taken two sips before an urgent pounding began at the door. Devary frowned.

   'Stay here,' he murmured and left the room. She heard the front door open and hushed voices in conversation. He was gone for several minutes, and at length she drifted that way, taking her tea along with her.

   Two winged Glinnery guards stood in the hallway. Their eyes flicked to Llandry as soon as she appeared. Devary looked up also, an expression of haggard alarm on his face. Llandry looked questioningly at the guards, trying to stifle the flicker of fear that began in her belly.

   'Miss Sanfaer,' said one, bowing to her. 'Bad news to report. We left two of our colleagues at the Silver Harp yesterday. Their bodies have just been discovered.' He paused, his face hard. 'Your room was broken into last night. It's been ransacked; most of your possessions are destroyed, I'm afraid.'

   'Whurthags, Llan,' said Devary gently. 'It cannot be long before the search is extended to this house. We are leaving immediately.'

   'We're escorting you back to Waeverleyne, Miss,' said the guard. 'I've requested some reinforcements from the guardhouse here, plus a local summoner's coming along. You'll be well protected.' Llandry guessed he was anxious to regain face after a series of failures, but she appreciated his consideration for her safety.

   'Thank you,' Llandry said to the guards. 'I-I'm sorry about your colleagues.'

   'Not your fault, Miss,' said the captain. 'We'll await you and Mr. Kant outside.' Both men bowed to her and left.

   'It is my fault,' she said sadly, to an empty hallway.

   Everything moved very rapidly after that. Devary returned within minutes, hastily groomed and dressed in his travelling clothes. She stood ready by the time he arrived, her cloak donned and her few remaining possessions clutched in her small travel bag. A carriage waited outside, with a team of four nivvens in the traces. She and Devary stepped on board and the carriage immediately began to move.

   Devary settled into a seat opposite her. 'I am not letting you out of my sight until you are safely back with your mother and father. Understand?'

   She nodded, twisting her small hands nervously in the folds of her cloak. She watched sightlessly out of the window as the city of Draetre blurred past, trying to ignore the knot of guilt that had taken root in her belly. Every time she stepped beyond the confines of her mother's house, she generated disaster, and she was wholly sickened by it. Her gravest mistake had been in wandering the streets of Draetre while Sigwide carried the istore pendant. True, she hadn't known he had taken it, but that was little excuse. He had stolen it once before. She should have been more vigilant.