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I wonder where Clevwrith is, Despiris thought to herself
idly as she walked aimlessly through the alleys. Now
that the exhilaration of her mischievous actions was
past, she had to keep moving for warmth  or retreat
below ground, but she enjoyed the rain. It had reduced
to a whisper now, falling with a hush you could hear,
turning the stone all around her to a darker shade  a
shade it would be at night, and Despiris had to glance
up at the gray sky to remind herself that evening had
not yet turned into the dusky hour she was imagining.
Ahead, someone s shadow spread past a curve and
announced his imminent presence. Despiris turned into
a side alley to avoid meeting up with the caster of the
shadow.
Gradually, everything dimmed and grew dark. The
color of midnight descended from the sky and sank in
around the walls of Madon s Keep. Evening had been
swallowed by dusk.
Despiris was swallowed by the night.
76
Spychild
12: Treason Cause
 And those proven treasonous, whether by word of mouth,
fulfilled action, or betrayed thought, will be arrested and will
undergo a possible sentence of torture before being hung
without trial, as is decreed just by his Majesty of Cerf Daine.
 First law of Royalty s Justice, valid but forgotten.
Crow stormed down the spacious corridor inside the
palace. Servants scattered at the sight of him, hiding
behind great marble pillars and whispering behind his
back after he had passed them by. It had been a peaceful
few days with him gone, and every employee in the
king s service  from stable boy to kitchen wench  had
known the instant he returned.
Crow paid them no mind. He muttered under his
foul breath to himself, nonsense muttered just for the
sake of muttering, and jerked severely at his robes when
they billowed ridiculously from the speed of his stride.
77
Spychild
He was about to burst with brimming agitation, as a
horde of maddening every-day things fed his sensitive
temper.
He burst into the king s private chamber, without any
announcement of himself except his intrusion, and
silently cursed the young king s grasp on impassive
calm as his disrespectful entrance reeking of importance
resulted in no visible reaction. Catching himself before
his impassioned spirits could get him expelled from the
king s service, he halted and waited for permission to
speak.
The king flicked a glance at him but inconsequently
continued straightening his collar in the mirror.
Crow could tell he was being deliberately forced to
practice patience, and he nearly turned red containing
himself, knowing he was being mocked more than
corrected.
When the king walked casually across his chamber
and silently made himself comfortable in his cushioned
chair, where he ignored Lord Mosscrow and set to work
sharpening his decorative belt knife, Crow decided the
monarch had been born with a mean streak. Scrape after
rhythmic, methodical scrape, the blade sparked
gradually sharper.
Twitching with impatience, Crow coughed to get the
king s attention, and coughed once again more
pointedly when the king took no notice.
 Where s Osprey? King Isavor inquired.  Not ill
with that cough of yours I hope?
Funny, your Majesty, Crow thought wryly.  He is not
ill, Majesty. I don t know where he is. Probably
cowering in his bed from the lingering fears of
78
Spychild
nightmares. I don t think he fared well on our hunt for a
shadow that is smarter than the rest of us put together.
Isavor betrayed a hint of smile.  I take it, then, that
you were not successful in your little jaunt?
 Successful? Little jaunt?  In a sense I was very
successful. I made a very valuable discovery. On the
other hand, that discovery could reveal a new enemy to
the crown, and one that poses a greater threat than any
we have ever known.
Isavor s eyes showed blank, but at least it wasn t
boredom that Crow read there.
 I m listening, said the king.
Crow produced the letter regarding the inn that the
Spylord had left for him.  There, at the bottom.  Long
live the king, and the Spylord s reign .
Isavor considered this for an infuriating amount of
wasted time.  Your point? he finally prompted, and
Crow all but exploded with exasperation.
 My point is that no; we did not catch the Spylord
because he is far more cunning than a fox, he walks
behind me like my own shadow, and haunts me like my
own ghost. His resources are our disadvantages. He can
dance in circles around us without us growing
suspicious of even a natural breeze. If he leaves
footprints, then they must disappear, and if he makes
mistakes, we ll never see them as anything more than
another twist in the intricately treacherous conspiracy he
plays as his game. He could slit our throats in our sleep,
and if we awakened as ghosts, we would never realize
we had died.
 Doubling security is not what I m proposing. The
multitude of our guard is irrelevant; he could slip in on
our nightmares if he wanted to get in. The point is that
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Spychild
this clever wraith that mocks your reign and shadows
your streets is capable of anything, and that note you
hold proves his intentions are treasonous.
 Crow...I ve known ants more inclined to admit
useless purpose than you.
 Your Majesty defines possible treason from a deadly
icon as useless information?
The king assumed a long-suffering expression and
looked pointedly at his advisor.  Lord Mosscrow, if this
shadow man really is as extraordinary as you make him
out to be, then how do you expect to overthrow him?
Wouldn t it be easier and more of an advantage if we
befriended and used him? As a secret weapon to the
crown?
 Advantageous, surely. But not at all practical or
safe. If he already has treasonous thoughts, I believe his
loyalties are established.
 Of course, but how then do you plan to proceed?
You are bringing me problems without solutions, and [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

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