"Tell the authorities?" repeated the Kan-Hanar Kan-Hanar, not the least disconcerted by the crowd or the antics of the young man in the pantaloons. "Yes, I"ll notify the proper people, you may be certain of that."
Making a gesture to the two black-robed figures who stood watching from the shadows, the Kan-Hanar Kan-Hanar laid his hand upon the young man"s shoulder. laid his hand upon the young man"s shoulder.
"Simkin, in the name of the Emperor, I place you under arrest."
2.
Welcome Home, Simkin Calling for the warlocks, the Kan-Hanar Kan-Hanar held Simkin firmly. The black-robed held Simkin firmly. The black-robed Duuk-tsarith Duuk-tsarith floated toward the young man, the crowd parting at their coming like leaves driven by a storm wind. Amid the rustling murmurs of the people, the gasps of shock that were equal parts horror and delight, Gwen"s gaze was drawn from Simkin - who was staring at the floated toward the young man, the crowd parting at their coming like leaves driven by a storm wind. Amid the rustling murmurs of the people, the gasps of shock that were equal parts horror and delight, Gwen"s gaze was drawn from Simkin - who was staring at the Kan-Hanar Kan-Hanar in absolute astoundment - to his friends. in absolute astoundment - to his friends.
Standing behind Simkin, the catalyst had gone from red to a deathly pallor, his hand reaching out and resting on the shoulder of the dark young man in a manner that was both protective and restraining. The other young man, the blond one, laid his hand on his friend"s arm as well, and then it was that Gwen noticed the dark young man reached behind his back, beneath his cloak.
Weapons of any type are not used in Merilon, since they are considered to be the evil machinations of those who practice the Dark Art, the Ninth Mystery - Technology. The young girl watching had never seen a sword, but she knew of them through the nursery stories her governess told her of the ancient days. Gwen knew instinctively that this young man carried one, that he and his friends were undoubtedly bandits, and that he intended to fight.
"No!" she breathed, pressing one hand against her mouth, the other crushing the forgotten flowers.
The dark young man had turned to face the approaching Duuk-tsarith Duuk-tsarith, his back was to Gwen. The warm spring wind blew his cloak aside, and she saw his hand clenched around the hilt of his sword, slowly drawing it from a sheath that surrounded the object like the skin of a snake. The weapon was dark and hideous, and Gwen wanted to shut her eyes in horror. But her eyelids were dry and burning. She couldn"t close them, she could only stare at the weapon and the young man in a dread fascination, a smothering sensation in her chest.
The Duuk-tsarith Duuk-tsarith, now clear of the crowd, stretched out their hands toward Simkin, spell chants on their lips. They did not seem to be paying any attention to the dark young man, who was moving slowly up behind his friend.
""Pon my honor!" cried Simkin. "Must be some mistake. Call me when you"ve cleared it up, there"s a good fellow."
The air shimmered and the Kan-Hanar Kan-Hanar was left standing in front of Earth Gate, his hand resting firmly on nothing. was left standing in front of Earth Gate, his hand resting firmly on nothing.
Simkin was gone.
"Find him!" the Kan-Hanar Kan-Hanar ordered unnecessarily, for the ordered unnecessarily, for the Duuk-tsarith Duuk-tsarith were already responding. "I"ll watch his friends." were already responding. "I"ll watch his friends."
Gwen"s eyes - opened wide at this astonishing development - went instantly to the dark young man. Simkin"s disappearance had apparently startled him as well. He hesitated drawing the sword, and Gwen saw the catalyst remonstrating with him, speaking earnestly, his hand once more on the young man"s shoulder. Just as the Kan-Hanar Kan-Hanar came near, the young man slid the sword back into its scabbard, hastily covering it with his cloak. came near, the young man slid the sword back into its scabbard, hastily covering it with his cloak.
Gwen drew a shivering breath in relief, then realized, too late, that she was betraying far more interest in this young man than was maidenly proper. Hoping her cousins hadn"t noticed the burning flush in her cheeks, she buried her face in the bouquet.
"I say, loosen up," yelped a voice. "You"re pinching me most awfully."
Gwen gasped, dropping the flowers in her amazement. The voice had come from the heart of her bouquet!
"Almin"s blood, child!" one of the flowers said irritably. "I didn"t mean for you to loosen up quite that much! I"ve crumpled a petal."
The blossoms lay scattered in the street. Slowly, cautiously, Gwendolyn drifted down out of the air to kneel beside the bouquet, staring at it incredulously. One flower stood out amid the dainty selection of violets and roses. This was a bright purple tulip, adorned by a red streak around its middle and a dash of orange on the top.
"Well, are you just going to leave me lying in the filth?" the tulip asked in aggrieved tones.
Gulping, Gwen glanced up to see if her cousins were looking at her, but they appeared to be totally absorbed in watching the Duuk-tsarith Duuk-tsarith. The warlocks had not moved from the spot. Hands clasped before them, their black hoods pulled low over their faces, they appeared to be doing nothing. But Gwendolyn knew that they were mentally going over everyone in the crowd, throwing out the long, unseen filaments of their magical web, seeking their prey.
Her eyes on the warlocks, Gwen reached out and gently picked up the purple tulip.
"Simkin?" she asked hesitantly. "What -"
"Shush! Shush!" hissed the tulip. "There"s been a most frightful mistake. I"m positive of it. Why should they arrest me? Well, there was that one incident with the Countess"s jewelry ... But surely no one remembers that! Stuff was all fake anyway. Well, most of it.... If I can just get to the Emperor, you see, I"m certain he"ll set everything right! Then, there"s my friends." The tulip took on an air of importance. "Can you keep a secret, child?"
"Well, I -" Gwen regarded the tulip in bewilderment.
"Shush! The dark young man. n.o.ble family. Father died. Left the boy a fortune. Wicked uncle. Boy kidnapped. Held prisoner by giants. I rescued him. Now he returns, expose uncle, claim inheritance."
"Really?" Gwen raised her eyes to look at the dark young man over the tulips petals. "I just knew it," she said.
"That"s it!" the tulip cried. "Why didn"t it occur to me? Wicked uncle behind this! Heard we were coming back. Should have known. Had me arrested to get me out of the way. Too bad," the tulip said gloomily. "He won"t stop with kidnapping now. It"ll be murder this time."
"Oh, dear, no!" Gwen whispered in alarm. "There must be something you can do!"
"I"m afraid not, unless you would - But no, I couldn"t ask it." The tulip gave a gusty sigh. "I"m destined for life in a bud vase. As for my friend? Bottom of the river ..."
"Oh, no! I"ll help, if you really think I can," Gwen faltered.
"Very well," the tulip responded with seeming reluctance. "Although I hate to involve you. But, you see, sweet child, I was thinking that if you were to drift over there quite casually and appear not to notice that anything was amiss and quite casually grab hold of the dear old catalyst, you could say, quite casually, "Father Dungstable! I"m terribly sorry I"m late. Papa and Mama are expecting you at home this moment!" Then you, quite casually, lead him off."
"Lead him where?" Gwen asked in confusion.
"Why, home, of course," the tulip said matter-of-factly. "I presume you have room enough for us all. I do prefer private quarters, but if I have to, I"ll share, though not with the catalyst. You can"t imagine how he snores!"
"You mean - Take you all ... to my home!"
"Of course! And you must do it quickly. Before that wretched catalyst says somethig to ruin us all! Poor man is none too bright, if you know what I mean."
"But I can"t! Not without asking Mama and Papa. What would they say -"
"If you brought Simkin to your house? Simkin, the darling of the court? My dear," the tulip continued in bored tones, "I could stay at the homes of twenty Princes, just like that! To say nothing of the Dukes and Earls and Counts who have literally gone down on their knees to beg me to be their houseguest. The Earl of Essac was devastated when I said no. Threatened to off himself. But really, twenty Pekingese? They yap, you know, to say nothing of nipping at the ankles." The tulip flicked a leaf. "And of course I can introduce you into court, once this little matter is set right."
"Court!" Gwen repeated softly. Visions of the Crystal Palace came to her mind. She saw herself being presented to His Royal Highness, curtsying, her hand on the strong arm of the dark young man.
"I"ll do it!" she said in sudden conviction.
"Sweet child!" responded the tulip in heartfelt tones. "Now, carry me with you. Don"t mind the Duuk-tsarith Duuk-tsarith They"ll never penetrate this disguise. I say, though, it would certainly add to the overall effect if you would just tuck me into your bosom -" They"ll never penetrate this disguise. I say, though, it would certainly add to the overall effect if you would just tuck me into your bosom -"
"My ... where? Oh ... no!" Gwen murmured, blushing. "I don"t think so ..." Placing the tulip among the other blossoms, she hastily gathered up the remainder of the bouquet from the ground.
"Ah, well," the tulip reflected philosophically, "you can"t win them all, as the Baron Baumgarten said when his wife ran off with the croquet master ... and the Baron so fond of the game."
"I am going to ask you again, what are your names and what are your doing in Merilon?" The Kan-Hanar Kan-Hanar glared at them suspiciously. glared at them suspiciously.
"And I am going to tell you again, sir," said Joram, his voice taut with the visible effort it was taking him to control his temper, "he is Father Dunstable, he is Mosiah, and I am Joram. We are illusionists - traveling actors - who met Simkin by chance. We agreed to form a troupe and we are here at the invitation of one of Simkin"s patrons ..."
Saryon bowed his head, ceasing in his despair to listen. This was a story Prince Garald had suggested and it had sounded plausible at the time. Those born to the Mystery of Shadow, known as illusionists, are - by and large - a cla.s.sless society. They are the artists of Thimhallan, traveling extensively throughout the world to entertain the populace with their skills and talents. Illusionists entered Merilon constantly, their skills being in great demand among the n.o.bility.
But this was the third time Joram had told the Kan-Hanar Kan-Hanar his story and it was obvious to Saryon, at least, that the man wasn"t having any part of it. his story and it was obvious to Saryon, at least, that the man wasn"t having any part of it.
It"s all over, Saryon said to himself bleakly.
The guilty secret he carried had burned such a huge hole in his mind that he was convinced it must be visible to all who looked at him - marked on his forehead, perhaps, like a Guild stamp upon a silver b.u.t.ter dish. When the Kan-Hanar Kan-Hanar arrested Simkin, the catalyst immediately jumped to the conclusion that Vanya had caught them. He prevented Joram from using the Darksword in their defense more out of fear for the young man"s life than from fear of discovery. To Saryon, the end had come, and he intended, in just a few seconds, to counsel Joram to tell the arrested Simkin, the catalyst immediately jumped to the conclusion that Vanya had caught them. He prevented Joram from using the Darksword in their defense more out of fear for the young man"s life than from fear of discovery. To Saryon, the end had come, and he intended, in just a few seconds, to counsel Joram to tell the Kan-Hanar Kan-Hanar the truth. He was just thinking, with a kind of wistful relief, that his bitter suffering would soon be over, when the catalyst felt a gentle hand upon his arm. the truth. He was just thinking, with a kind of wistful relief, that his bitter suffering would soon be over, when the catalyst felt a gentle hand upon his arm.
Turning, he found himself confronted by a young woman of sixteen or seventeen perhaps (Saryon was not much in the habit of guessing the ages of young women) who was greeting him like a long-lost uncle.
"Father Dungstable! How good to see you! Please accept my apologies for arriving late. I hope you are not angry, but it was such a lovely day that my cousins and I lingered far too long in the Grove. See the bouquet I gathered? Isn"t it lovely. There is one flower, Father, that I picked especially for you."
The girl held out a flower. It was a tulip, Saryon saw, staring at it in bewilderment. Just as he was about to take it into his hand, he noticed that it was a purple tulip - a bright purple tulip ... with a bright red sash and a dash of orange....
Closing his eyes, Saryon groaned.
"And so you are telling me, Gwendolyn of the House of Samuels, that these ... gentlemen are invited guests of your father"s?" The Kan-Hanar Kan-Hanar glanced at Joram and Mosiah dubiously. glanced at Joram and Mosiah dubiously.
After Gwendolyn told her story to the Gate guards, the Kan-Hanar Kan-Hanar had taken them all to one of the guard towers. Magically shaped to stand next to the Earth Gate, the tower existed primarily for the convenience of the had taken them all to one of the guard towers. Magically shaped to stand next to the Earth Gate, the tower existed primarily for the convenience of the Kan-Hanar Kan-Hanar, giving them a place to rest during times when the Gate wasn"t busy, and containing supplies for their official duties. It was rarely used for interrogating those seeking admittance to Merilon - that was generally handled at the Gate itself with quick dispatch. But - due to Simkin"s dramatic arrival and even more dramatic disappearance - the Kan-Hanar Kan-Hanar discovered the crowd growing just a bit too interested in the proceedings. Therefore, he had herded everyone into the tower and now they stood, crowded together, in a small hexagonal room that had never been intended to accommodate six people and a tulip. discovered the crowd growing just a bit too interested in the proceedings. Therefore, he had herded everyone into the tower and now they stood, crowded together, in a small hexagonal room that had never been intended to accommodate six people and a tulip.
"Yes, of course," the young woman replied, toying prettily with the flowers she held in her hand.
Putting a blossom near her soft cheek, Gwen regarded the archmagus over its petals in a coquettish manner that the man found quite charming. He didn"t take any particular notice of the fact that one of these blossoms happened to be an unusual-looking tulip, or that the young woman"s speech contained many pauses and hesitations. On the contrary, he attributed this to a maidenly reserve he considered most proper and becoming in a young girl.
Saryon knew the real reason, however - the young woman was being coached in what to say, and she was being coached by the tulip! The catalyst could only wonder bleakly whether this was going to help matters or simply add to their long list of crimes. There was nothing he could do about it now, except to play his part and trust Simkin and the girl to play theirs.
As for Joram and Mosiah, Saryon had no idea whether they had figured out what was going on or not. The Kan-Hanar Kan-Hanar was watching them all closely, and the catalyst dared not give them any type of sign. He did risk a glance at them, however, and was somewhat startled to find Joram"s gaze fixed on the girl with such burning intensity that the catalyst hoped she didn"t notice. Such ardent and undisguised admiration might frighten and confuse her. was watching them all closely, and the catalyst dared not give them any type of sign. He did risk a glance at them, however, and was somewhat startled to find Joram"s gaze fixed on the girl with such burning intensity that the catalyst hoped she didn"t notice. Such ardent and undisguised admiration might frighten and confuse her.
Seeing Joram"s look, Saryon realized that he might have an entirely new set of problems to contemplate. Although losing one"s heart wasn"t exactly in the same category with losing one"s life, the catalyst remembered his own days of tortured, dreaming youth and gave a despairing sigh. As if they didn"t have trouble enough....
"You see, sir," Gwendolyn was explaining, the tulips petals brushing thoughtfully against her bejeweled earlobe, "Simkin and my father, Lord Samuels, the Guildmaster - You know him?"
Yes, the Kan-Hanar Kan-Hanar knew her honored father and indicated so with a bow. knew her honored father and indicated so with a bow.
Gwen smiled sweetly. "Simkin and my father have long been friends (this would have been news to Lord Samuels) and so when Simkin and his ... his" - a pause - "tr-troupe of" - another pause - "young actors made known their intention to ... to ... perform in Merilon, my father extended an invitation to stay at our home."
The Kan-Hanar Kan-Hanar still appeared doubtful, but it wasn"t over the young woman"s story. Simkin was well-known and well-liked in Merilon. He often stayed at the very best homes. Indeed, the wonder of this was that he should consent to reside at the relatively humble dwelling of a mere Guildmaster. Lord Samuels and his family had a most honorable reputation, generations of them haying dwelt in Merilon practically since its founding with not a breath of scandal attached to the name. No, the still appeared doubtful, but it wasn"t over the young woman"s story. Simkin was well-known and well-liked in Merilon. He often stayed at the very best homes. Indeed, the wonder of this was that he should consent to reside at the relatively humble dwelling of a mere Guildmaster. Lord Samuels and his family had a most honorable reputation, generations of them haying dwelt in Merilon practically since its founding with not a breath of scandal attached to the name. No, the Kan-Hanar Kan-Hanar was in truth wondering how to cope with this awkward situation without upsetting Lord Samuels or his charming daughter. was in truth wondering how to cope with this awkward situation without upsetting Lord Samuels or his charming daughter.
"The fact of the matter is," the Kan-Hanar Kan-Hanar began reluctantly, aware of the gaze of innocent blue eyes, "that Simkin is under arrest -" began reluctantly, aware of the gaze of innocent blue eyes, "that Simkin is under arrest -"
"No!" Gwen cried in horror and shock.
"That is," the Kan-Hanar Kan-Hanar amended, "he would be under arrest if he were here. But he escap - That is, he left rather suddenly...." amended, "he would be under arrest if he were here. But he escap - That is, he left rather suddenly...."
"I am certain there must be some mistake," the young woman said with an indignant toss of her golden curls. "Simkin can undoubtedly explain everything."
"I"m sure he can," muttered the Kan-Hanar Kan-Hanar.
"In the meantime," Gwen continued, moving a step nearer the Kan-Hanar Kan-Hanar and gently laying her hand upon his arm in a pleading manner, "Papa is expecting these gentlemen, particularly Father Dungstable -" and gently laying her hand upon his arm in a pleading manner, "Papa is expecting these gentlemen, particularly Father Dungstable -"
"Dunstable," corrected the catalyst faintly.
"- who is an old friend of our family"s that we have not seen in years. Indeed" - Gwendolyn turned to look at the catalyst - "I was quite a child when you saw me last, wasn"t I, Father? I"ll wager you didn"t recognize me."
"That - that"s quite true," stammered Saryon. "I didn"t."
He saw that the young woman was enjoying the daring and danger of this enterprise, never dreaming how very real the danger was. The girl turned back to the Kan-Hanar Kan-Hanar with a smile. Saryon, his heart pounding in fear, glanced out the door and saw the with a smile. Saryon, his heart pounding in fear, glanced out the door and saw the Duuk-tsarith Duuk-tsarith conferring together near the Gate, their black hoods nearly touching. conferring together near the Gate, their black hoods nearly touching.
"The catalyst and these gentlemen," said Gwen, with a seemingly uninterested glance at both Mosiah and Joram, "are cold and wet and tired from their journey. Surely there can be no harm in letting me take them to my home. You will know where to find them, after all, if need be."
Apparently the Kan-Hanar Kan-Hanar considered this a good idea. Looking through the door, his gaze went to the considered this a good idea. Looking through the door, his gaze went to the Duuk-tsarith Duuk-tsarith as well, then went past the warlocks to the line of people waiting admittance into the city. It was their busiest time of day, the line was growing longer, people were getting impatient, and his partner looked harried. as well, then went past the warlocks to the line of people waiting admittance into the city. It was their busiest time of day, the line was growing longer, people were getting impatient, and his partner looked harried.
"Very well," the Kan-Hanar Kan-Hanar said abruptly. "I"ll give you pa.s.ses for City Above, but they are restricted. These gentlemen" - he looked grimly at Mosiah and Joram - "are to be allowed outside only in the company of your father." said abruptly. "I"ll give you pa.s.ses for City Above, but they are restricted. These gentlemen" - he looked grimly at Mosiah and Joram - "are to be allowed outside only in the company of your father."
"Or another member of the family?" Gwen asked sweetly.
"Or another member of the family," the Kan-Hanar Kan-Hanar muttered, hurriedly notating the restrictions on the scrolls of parchment that he was filling out. muttered, hurriedly notating the restrictions on the scrolls of parchment that he was filling out.
The Kan-Hanar Kan-Hanar was busy with his work, the catalyst leaned wearily against a wall, and Gwen"s blue eyes turned their gaze to Joram. It was the innocent, flirtatious glance of a young girl playing at being a woman. But it was caught in the snare of serious dark eyes, caught by a man who knew nothing of such games. was busy with his work, the catalyst leaned wearily against a wall, and Gwen"s blue eyes turned their gaze to Joram. It was the innocent, flirtatious glance of a young girl playing at being a woman. But it was caught in the snare of serious dark eyes, caught by a man who knew nothing of such games.
Gwen was accustomed to shedding her warmth and charm upon men and having them reflect it back to her. She was startled, therefore, to feel that warmth suddenly sucked into the dark well of a cold and hungry soul.
It was unnerving, even frightening. The dark eyes were absorbing her. She had to break their hold or lose something of herself - although just what that might be she didn"t know. She couldn"t make herself look away; the feeling was frightening, but thrilling at the same time.
It was obvious that the young man wasn"t going to quit staring, however! This was growing intolerable. The only thing Gwendolyn could think of to do was drop the bouquet of flowers. It wasn"t meant as a flirtatious advance. She didn"t even think about that. Leaning down to pick it up would give her a chance to regain her self-possession and break the disturbing gaze of that bold young man. It was not destined to work out that way, however.
Someone else bent down to pick up the flowers as well, and Gwen only found herself in closer proximity to the young man than before. Each reached for the purple tulip - which was exhibiting most untuliplike behavior, its leaves curling, its petals fluttering in what may have been laughter - at the same time.
"Allow me, my lady," Joram said, his hand brushing hers and lingering there.
"Thank you, sir," Gwen murmured. s.n.a.t.c.hing her own hand back as though it had been burned, she rose hurriedly back into the air.
Gravely, Joram stood up and handed the flowers to her - all except the tulip.
"With your permission, my lady," he said in a voice that was, to Gwen"s fluttered mind, as dark as his eyes, "I will keep this, a memento of our meeting."
Did he know who the tulip was? Gwen could say nothing, but muttered something incoherent about being "flattered" as she watched the young man take the tulip, smooth its petals with his hand (such an extraordinary hand, Gwen caught herself noticing, strong and calloused, yet with long, delicate fingers), and then slip the tulip into a pocket beneath his cloak.
Half convinced that she had heard a strangled squeak of outrage before the tulip was extinguished by the smothering fabric, she found herself wondering what it would be like to be pressed against the breast of the young man. Gwen blushed feverishly and turned away. She remembered the pa.s.ses to City Above only when the Kan-Hanar Kan-Hanar actually laid them in her hand, and forced herself to concentrate on what the man was saying. actually laid them in her hand, and forced herself to concentrate on what the man was saying.
"You will not need a pa.s.s, of course, Father Dunstable, since you have dispensation to visit the Cathedral. The restrictions do not apply to you, either. You You may go there whenever you like, and you will, I am certain, be desirous of making your presence known to your Order as soon as possible." may go there whenever you like, and you will, I am certain, be desirous of making your presence known to your Order as soon as possible."
A delicate hint for the catalyst to report to the Cathedral at once.
Saryon bowed humbly. "May the Almin give you a good day, Archmagus," he said.
"And you, Father Dunstable," the Kan-Hanar Kan-Hanar replied. His gaze flicked over Joram and Mosiah as if they did not exist and he hurried out of the hexagonal tower room to interview the next in line. replied. His gaze flicked over Joram and Mosiah as if they did not exist and he hurried out of the hexagonal tower room to interview the next in line.
Fortunately for Gwen, she was captured by her cousins the moment she left the guard tower. This helped her put disquieting thoughts of the dark young man firmly out of her mind - though her heart seemed to beat in time with his footsteps that she could hear so clearly behind her.
"If - if you will excuse me, Father Dunstable," Gwen said, turning to the catalyst and ignoring his young companions, "I have to tell - explain ... all this ... to my cousins. If you would like to refresh yourselves, the cafe over there is quite nice. I"ll only be a moment."