Banouin rose to his feet and stretched his aching back. Then he called the guards to assist him in helping Nalademus to his feet and through to the bedroom. Nalademus lay down. ‘It feels so good to stretch out on a bed,’ he said. ‘I have been sleeping in chairs for weeks.’
‘Do not overstretch yourself tomorrow, lord. You are stronger, but your kidneys will need time to heal.’
‘I feel better than I have in months, Banouin. But I will heed what you say.’
‘I also think, lord, that I should stay close for the next few days. There may be a relapse.’
Nalademus smiled. ‘I have a room prepared for you.’ With a grunt he sat up and walked through a narrow doorway. Banouin waited, and after a while the Stone elder returned. ‘By the Stone,’ he said. ‘I’ve not pissed like that in five years.’
Banouin forced a smile. ‘You will find that the action is repeated a great deal over the next few days, lord. There is a great amount of liquid to be expelled.’
Nalademus sat down on the bed. ‘This has been a fortunate day for me, young man. It has also proved fortunate for your tutor, Sencra. I did re-examine the evidence, and he will be released forthwith.’
‘Thank you, lord. That is most kind of you.’
‘My kindness is legendary,’ said Nalademus coldly. ‘Now my guards will show you to your rooms.’
Lanterns had been lit in the suite of rooms assigned to him, and Banouin stood in the doorway and marvelled at the opulence of the interior. A magnificent fresco had been painted around the main room: a vineyard scene with leaves and grapes. The vines seemed to be growing out of the walls, and the grapes looked good enough to pluck from the plaster. The furniture was elegantly crafted, and the rugs below his feet were woven silk.
Banouin stepped inside and the guards pulled shut the door. There was no fireplace in the main room, but warm air was circulating up through two metal grilles in the floor and the temperature was comfortable, despite the open doors leading to the balcony.
He strolled outside, and found himself overlooking the Knights’ Barracks, and the bronze gates through which he had walked with some trepidation earlier. Alone at last, Banouin allowed himself to relax. His hands began to tremble. There was a curved seat on the balcony and he sank gratefully into it. Doubts assailed him. He was pleased that Sencra had been freed, and felt a small pride in his achievement. Against that, however, was the knowledge that he was in the process of saving a monster. It had been hard to touch the swollen flesh of Nalademus. Evil emanated from the man, like a seeping, invisible mist, corrupting as it touched. Banouin shivered and walked back into the warmth of the room.
The tables and shelves contained many small ornaments, mostly porcelain figures and objects of coloured glass. Banouin stared at them for a moment. These, he realized, were personal items, gathered by a man – or woman – who took pleasure in the delicate beauty of the pieces. He moved to a closet at the far wall and opened it. The shelves and hooks within were bare, but, unnoticed in a corner, a single sandal lay against the wall. Moving around the suite he opened all the drawers, and found not a solitary item in any of them. Whoever had dwelt here had left in a great hurry, not even bothering to pack the beautiful porcelain. Perhaps they will return for it, he thought.
Someone tapped at the outer door. Banouin walked through the apartment. A young man was waiting outside, bearing a silver tray on which was a selection of cooked meats and vegetables, and a jug of water. The servant bowed his head and entered the suite, laying the tray upon a lacquered table.
‘Who dwelt here before me?’ asked Banouin. The servant bowed again, and Banouin saw fear in his eyes. Then the young man hurried away. ‘Thank you,’ Banouin called after him.
Moments later there was another knock at the door. This time it was two older servants. One was carrying folded clothes, the other a copper bucket filled with hot water. Banouin saw that the clothes were his own. The first servant laid the clothing in the empty closet, then withdrew. The second moved through the suite to a room Banouin had not noticed, behind a panelled door. He followed the servant, and watched him pour the hot water into a tub shaped like a giant shell. Other servants entered the room, each carrying buckets. Within minutes the shell tub was three-quarters full. The first servant returned, carrying fresh towels, and a small phial of perfume, which he added to the water. Then they all withdrew. Not one spoke a word.