Regis tried to interrupt and quell the torrent of words. “Dom Felix, I do not understand. I parted from Danilo some days ago, in your own orchard. I have not laid eyes on him since; I have been ill—” The memory of his drugged dream tormented him, of Danilo being roughly handled, afraid, in pain….
“Liar!” Dom Felix shouted, his face red and ugly with rage and pain. “Who but you—”
“That’s enough, sir,” said Gabriel, breaking in with firm authority. “No one speaks like that to the heir to Hastur. I give you my word—”
“The word of a Hastur lickspittle and toady! I dare speak against these filthy tyrants! Did you take my son for your—” He flung a word at Regis next to which “catamite” was a courtly compliment. Regis paled against the old man’s rage.
“Dom Felix—if you will hear me—”
“Hear you! My son heard you, sir, all your fine words!”
Two Guardsmen rode close to the enraged old man, grasping the reins of his horse, holding him motionless,
“Let him go,” Gabriel said quietly. “Dom Felix, we know nothing of your son. I came to you with a message from Kennard Alton concerning him. May I deliver it?”
Dom Felix quieted himself with an effort that made his eyes bulge. “Speak, then, Captain Lanart, and the Gods deal with you as you Comyn dealt with my son.”
“The Gods do so to me and more also, if I or mine harmed him,” Gabriel said. “Hear the message of Kennard, Lord Alton, Commander of the Guard: ‘Say to Dom Felix of Syrtis that it is known to me what a grave miscarriage of justice was done in the Guards this year, of which his son Danilo-Felix, cadet, may have been an innocent victim; and ask that he send his son Danilo-Felix to Thendara under any escort of his own choosing, to stand witness in a full investigation against men in high places, even within Comyn, who may have misused their powers. ” Gabriel paused, then added, “I was also authorized to say to you, Dom Felix, that ten days from now, when I have escorted my brother-in-law, who is in poor health at this moment, to Neskaya Tower, that I shall myself return and escort your son to Thendara, and that you are yourself welcome to accompany him as his protector, or to name any guardian or relative of your own choosing, and that Kennard Alton will stand personally responsible for his safety and honor.”
Dom Felix said unsteadily, “I have never had reason to doubt Lord Alton’s honor or goodwill. Then Danilo is not in Thendara?”
One of the Guards, a grizzled veteran, said, “You know me, sir, I served with Rafael in the war, sixteen years gone. I kept an eye on young Dani for his sake. I give you my word, sir, Dani isn’t there, with Comyn conniving or without it.”
The old man’s face gradually paled to its normal hue. He said, “Then Danilo did not run away to join you, Lord Regis?”
“On my honor, sir, he did not. I saw him last when we parted in your own orchard. Tell me, how did he go, did he leave no word?”
The old man’s face was clay-colored. “I saw nothing. Dani had been hunting; I was not well and had kept my bed. I said to him I had a fancy for some birds for supper, the Gods forgive me, and he took a hawk and went for them, such a good obedient son—” His voice broke. “It grew late and he did not return. I had begun to wonder if his horse had gone lame, or he’d gone on some boy’s prank, and then old Mauris and the kitchen-folk came running into my chamber and told me, they saw him meet with riders on the path and saw him struck down and carried away…”
Gabriel looked puzzled and dismayed. “On my word, Dom Felix, none of us had art, part or knowledge of it What hour was this? Yesterday? The day before?”
“The day before, Captain. I swooned away at the news. But as soon as my old bones would bear me I took horse to come and hold . .. someone to account. . . .” His voice faded again. Regis drew his own horse close to Dom Felix and took his arm. He said impulsively, “Uncle,” using the same word he used to Kennard Alton, “you are father to my friend; I owe you a son’s duty as well. Gabriel, take the Guards, go and look, question the house-folk.” He turned back to Dom Felix, saying gently, “I swear I will do all I can to bring Danilo safely back. But you are not well enough to ride. Come with me.” Taking the other’s reins in his own hands, he turned the old man’s mount and led him down the path into the cobbled courtyard. Dismounting quickly, he helped Dom Felix down and guided his tottering steps. He led him into the hall, saying to the old half-blind servant there, “Your master is ill, fetch him some wine.”