recover your fortune, and more.’
‘No, no, no,’ he protested. ‘You wrong me.’
‘The high priest will appeal only to his Rankan gods,’ Illyra said, her tone
changing from exasperated to thoughtful. She stroked her chin. ‘He, kinsman of
the Emperor, here to direct the building of a temple which will overtop that of
Us, can hardly beg aid from the old gods of Sanctuary, let alone from our
wizards, witches, and seers. But you, who belong to no part of the empire, who
drifted hither from a kingdom far in the West … you may seek anywhere. The
idea is your own; else he would furtively have slipped you some gold, and you
have engaged a”diviner with more reputation than is mine.’
Cappen spread his hands. ‘You reason eerily well, dear lass,’ he conceded. ‘Only
about the motives are you mistaken. Oh, yes, I’d be glad to stand high in
Molin’s esteem, be richly rewarded, and so forth. Yet I feel for him; beneath
that sternness of his, he’s not a bad sort, and he bleeds. Still more do I feel
for his lady, who was indeed kind to me and who’s been snatched away to an
unknown place. But before all else -‘ He grew quite earnest. ‘The Lady Rosanda
was not seized by herself. Her ancilla has also vanished, Danlis. And – Danlis
is she whom I love, Illyra, she whom I meant to wed.’
The maiden’s look probed him further. She saw a young man of medium height,
slender but tough and agile. (That was due to the life he had had to lead; by
nature he was indolent, except in bed.) His features were thin and regular on a
long skull, cleanshaven, eyes bright blue, black hair banged and falling to the