The Vildecaz Talents: The complete set of Vildecaz Stories including Nimuar's Loss, The Deceptive Oracle and Agnith's Promise Read Free Page B

Valdishan Escarpment at the end of the Boarth Range, the Duzky still semi-autonomous despite the proximity of the Porzalk Empire. Between the outer and inner walls were steep slopes rising up to the castle, and three extensive gardens. Beyond the outer wall were the terraced fields, orchards, and vineyards of the castle, and a narrow approach-road that switch-backed up from the old port city of Valdihovee on the Dej River below. The weather was always controlled in the castle’s vicinity – Nimuar of Vildecaz had enough power left for that, which was why this pleasant autumn day would not be blighted by rain until nightfall.
    Riding her sturdy, sensible, mountain pony up from Valdihovee, the thriving port city that was the largest in the Duzky, Ninianee was struck again with how well-situated the castle was for the old-style wars: the most advanced of the siege-weapons would have been hard-pressed to lob anything more than a pillow over the tall, inner wall, let alone damage the castle itself. She had a strong affection for the castle and all of Vildecaz; unlike Erianthee, whose talents called her away from Vildecaz, Ninianee knew that her talents meant that she would probably pass most of her life in the Duzky, her life structured around the castle and the three nights of the full moon.
    The mountain pony halted, her head tossing once, shoulders tightening; she pulled at the bit as if to alert Ninianee.
    “What is it?” Ninianee said, using her talent for communicating with furred animals. An image of the gates of the castle came into Ninianee’s mind, and an odor she could not recognize. “Has someone come? There’s no guest-banner over the Main Gate yet.” There was an impression of a team of horses and an elaborate carriage. “I’ll stay alert.” Four horses and two humans, like shadows. “Thank you,” she told the pony, patting the mare’s neck, and wishing, as she often did, that furred animals could think in words as well as pictures.
    As she approached the Main Gate, Ninianee saw that the drawbridge was already down and the portcullis up. Had one of the guards seen her coming and done this, or had some unexpected visitor arrived, as the mountain pony had indicated? Ninianee muttered, “Bontaj,” at the timing, since this night would be the first night of the full moon – the Reaper’s Moon as the workmen called it – and that would exclude her from any entertaining that the guests might require. Already she was making plans for the coming night. She crossed the drawbridge and turned her mountain pony toward the stables, a bit startled that no one had come to meet her. Dismounting in front of the stable, she saw the grooms were busy with a team of handsome copper-duns. “Gremmi bontaj!” she exclaimed as she recognized the team. “What a time for Yulko Bihn to arrive.” She reached into her wallet and pulled out a browned wedge of apple, which she offered to her pony. “Thanks for the warning. I’m sorry I can’t stay to brush and feed you.”
    One of the grooms heard her, and broke away from the other five. “My Duzna,” he said, hurrying to take the reins from her.
    “There’re three packages on the saddle. See they are taken to the Duzna Erianthee’s apartments as soon as possible.” Ninianee knew she was being brusque with the lad, but she was too preoccupied to modify her tone. “Do you know where my father is?”
    “In the Great Hall, Duzna,” said the head-groom, coming up to her. “You should change before presenting yourself: Yulko Bihn is a stickler for Court form. He wants us to put on our dogas to stable his horses.”
    “I remember; thank you, Nejoch.” She strode away from the stables, bound for one of the five side-doors that gave admittance to the castle without passing through the Great Hall. Her mind was buzzing with plans for what she ought to do at sunset, and came up with a clumsy-but-serviceable scheme, which she was rehearsing as she climbed the narrow stairs