The wolfhound bounded straight for me, and I crouched with open arms, bracing myself not to fall over at the impact of the wriggling mass of large—and thankfully clean—dog. “Hey boy, hey.” I laughed as he licked my face, spinning and twisting to get the best angles. At least someone was happy to see me around here. And wasn’t that a self-pitying thought.
“Vesno was terribly put out to be locked away from you, Conrí,” Ibolya said, a smile in her voice. “But he made for an effective alarm. I knew you must be up and about from his determination to get to you, even before I heard the bell.” Ibolya had dressed in a bright gown, though not in full court regalia. Not wearing a wig, she’d fixed her dark hair in loose waves decorated with fresh flowers.
“Thanks for looking after him,” I said, giving Vesno another brisk rub and standing. “Lia’s awake and wanting food. I gave her the potion, but she’s still hungry.”
“That sounds encouraging.”
“Yeah. She also wants to bathe and dress. She’s worried about the storm and the state of Calanthe, but she’s weak still.”
Ibolya grimaced. “Not as encouraging. I’ll see to Her.”
Leaving a loaded plate for me, Ibolya dismissed the servants and took the other platter with her into Lia’s bedroom. I nearly followed, then thought better of it. Lia might let her lady-in-waiting assist her in ways she’d be too proud to say in front of me.
I dug into the food, not particularly hungry, but aware that I needed to eat. Vesno sat politely on his haunches next to me, and I rewarded him with a slice of ham. “Speaking of the state of Calanthe, any status reports?” I asked Sondra.
She gestured to the boarded-over windows, the wind shrieking past as the rain pounded against the wood like angry fists. “The storm is obviously as bad or worse. Dearsley is still acting regent. He’s been holding court today and doesn’t seem to suspect that Her Highness has returned. We’ll have to think about how to announce that news, show Her to the people and stuff.”
I grunted, shaking my head as I swallowed. “Not yet. She’s not up to a public appearance.”
Sondra poured herself a cup of tea and sat. “How long, do you think?”
Maybe never. I hated the traitorous thought, but if Lia couldn’t stand on her own, she might refuse to be seen. Despite my assurances that she’d get stronger, I couldn’t be sure. She seemed so changed—and how did a body recover from being dead a night and a day?
“Conrí?”
“Weren’t you the one scolding me not to push her too soon?”
She scowled at me. “The mood out there is uncertain at best. There’s been a lot of damage to the island, and it’s ongoing. Natural disasters like mudslides, cliffs shearing off, sinkholes opening up, floods, and fires. The weather is dreadful. Villages have been sending people here to ask for Her Highness’s help. Dearsley is sticking to the story that Lia is at the temple, but people are starting to doubt—and panic.”
Hmm. “Anything from Anure?”
“Not that I know of. Do you think the toad even knows he lost Her?”
I stared at Sondra. “Why wouldn’t he?”
She shrugged a little, snagged a piece of toast off my plate, and chewed thoughtfully. “After that first audience, Anure pretty much washed his hands of Lia. He turned Her over to the wizards and—sorry.”
I stroked Vesno’s silky head. If they’d endured it, I could hear about it. “Go on.”
“Well, after that, we never saw him again. The wizards had Lia—trying to get that orchid off Her—but I think they weren’t supposed to kill Her. Could be that they haven’t told Anure any of it: that they accidentally offed Her, and then lost Her corpse. I’m betting the wizards don’t know She’s alive, and Anure thinks She’s still his prisoner somewhere in the bowels of Yekpehr.”
“The wizards sent that huge wave,” I pointed out. “And both Lia and Ambrose think they’re still launching magical attacks.”
“Yeah, but that could be about getting Her Highness’s corpse—and the orchid—back. That could be all from the wizards, not Anure.”
I nodded. “It’s good thinking. But what do we do with it?”
“You’re the strategist, Conrí. But surely we can use this to our advantage when we return to Yekpehr.”
To rescue Rhéiane, but could I leave Lia in such a state? Abandon her in her hour of need. Again. “We can think about that later.”
“What?” Sondra thunked her head with the heel of her hand. “Did I hear wrong? We have to go back.”
“We will. There’s a lot to consider first.”
“Who are you?” Sondra banged her fist on the table, and Vesno jumped to his feet, wagging his tail in excitement. “I’m going back for Rhéiane, whether you are or not!”
“Would you be quiet?” I hissed. “Down, boy. Sit. Yes, of course I’m going back for Rhéiane, but Lia doesn’t need to know about it.”
“What? She knows. We talked about it on the Last Resort, when Agatha told us.”
I shook my head, raking a hand through my hair. “Lia doesn’t remember much about when she first woke up. Or the second time.”
Sondra set her cup down, lips parted in dismay. “How bad is it?”
I shrugged, unwilling to go into it—or to admit to myself how crazed Lia seemed.
“Brains rot first, you know,” Sondra commented thoughtfully, cupping her tea in her hands.
Staring at her, I had no words.
“You know that,” Sondra continued remorselessly. “You kill an animal, or a person, and the brains go to mush way before the other organs. It makes sense that, even if Lia isn’t entirely human, Her body is still flesh and blood. It had to start decomposing some and the—”
“Enough!” I snarled it way too loudly, but I couldn’t take anymore.
The door to the connecting chambers opened, and I spun to look, but it was only Ibolya slipping through and closing the door again behind her. She smiled at us with her Calanthean serenity that prettified all things, but her dark eyes held worry. “Her Highness ate and now She is sleeping some more.”
Instead of reassuring me, that news was only worrisome. Lia had been so determined to get up. Was she feeling weaker? “I’ll go check on her,” I said.
Ibolya put a gently restraining hand on my arm. “If you please, Conrí, Her Highness asked not to be disturbed. She’d like some time to Herself.”
Oh. The door stood forbiddingly closed, but I stared at it as if I could see through the ornately carved wood.
“I’ll stay close, Conrí,” Ibolya added, squeezing my forearm. “I set out clothes for you in your bathing chamber, so you can go ahead with your tasks. I’m sure a great deal awaits your attention.”
I realized I still wore the bright-red robe I’d put on not to be naked. Sondra must’ve been going easier on me than I thought, that she hadn’t commented on the fancily embroidered silk. Apparently I wasn’t going back to bed, so I might as well dress and deal with stuff. Disasters, the people panicking. Lia would expect me to handle things. Nobody else had figured out she and I weren’t married anymore, I hoped. Calantheans had been able to see the marriage bond before, but maybe they wouldn’t notice its absence. Ibolya hadn’t said anything.