Page 98 of Into the West

“We managed to save all those dubious bags of oats,” she said, opening her eyes. “The Healers say there’s nothing harmful in them, not even to animals.”

He took a deep breath. “That’s good news.”

“And I’ve got better. It’s all cleaned up down here again. Don’t mind the smoky smell. I’ve got people moving everything from the barges that people aren’t actually living in to storage down here. We should be done by suppertime. Anything that needs a preservation spell on it is being tended to by Venidel.”

They had a pleasant little conversation about who was doing what that came under Isla’s supervision, and as always, he was impressed by her management skills. Clearly she hadn’t ever actually needed the Seneschal’s help back in the Duchy; she had probably just accepted it to be polite.

“The boys asked permission to overnight with four friends in one of the tree-ekeles,” she finished. “They’ve been uncommonly good and helpful, so I said yes.”

She finished the sentence with an arched eyebrow, and lowered eyelids.

“Where are they eating supper?” he asked, responding to her signals with an appreciative smile.

“With their friends.” She returned his smile. “I’ve got a little treat I put away just for an evening like this.”

Her look was as good as a caress.

“Yes,” he answered. “But what will we do for supper?”

“Oh, you!” She laughed and made a shooing motion. “Go away and let me work. I’ll see you then.”

He had only just emerged from the tunnels when Jonaton ambushed him. Although it really could not have been called an ambush as such; there was nothing subtle about his outfit.

At least it’s not searing my eyeballs. “What is it, Jonaton?” he sighed. Because it was clear from Jonaton’s body language that he wanted something.

“Hakkon and I want to take over part of the tunnels,” he replied. “Isla won’t let us without your permission.”

“How much of the tunnels and why?” he asked. Because it was always a good idea to ask Jonaton exactly what he intended to do—and hedge him around with conditions.

“That spot in the far south with the dead end and three chambers off it,” Jonaton supplied, fiddling with fringe on his sleeves as long as Kordas’s forearm.

He’s up to something.

“I’m not up to something, I swear!” Jonaton added, which cemented Kordas’s impression that, in fact, he was up to something. “And it’s empty now. Isla wants to put smelly old fleeces in it. I’ve got a better idea.”

Kordas suddenly knew exactly what Jonaton had planned. “You’re going to make a window-Gate down there, aren’t you?”

“Well . . . yes.” More fiddling with fringe. “The chamber I want to use has a really good door that locks from the outside.”

“So if something goes wrong you can lock the door on what you let in,” Kordas responded flatly.

“Well . . . yes.”

Kordas sighed. Bad idea. But better to let him do it and hedge him around with conditions than forbid him and watch him do what he wanted to anyway. The proverb about apologies and permission cut both ways, sometimes. “One,” he said, holding up a finger. “You will not be spying on the Hawkbrothers’ new Vale.”

Jonaton sighed. It was clear that was exactly what he had intended to do. “All right,” he said sorrowfully. “I don’t know why you don’t trust me, Kordas.”

“I’m not done. Two. You will not be looking back at the Empire.”

“What?” That startled the mage. “Why not?”

“Because spy-holes work both ways. You’ve got to have four layers of countermeasures behind six misdirections before I’ll let you. Three: you will have Ceri or Sai with you at all times when you open your little window. All times. And if they don’t have time, then you don’t play with your toy. Is that clear?”

Jonaton frowned, but he behaved like he was sixteen sometimes. “It isn’t like I’m asking for Heartstone access!”

“Only because you won’t ask, you’ll do it and we’ll have to rescue you.”

Jonaton ground his teeth together.

“And one more thing. Keep cats out of the window room. I mean it.”

“You are such a tyrant,” Jonaton groused. “All right. I agree.”

“Then go find some hertasi to help you carry your things from your barge to your new cave,” Kordas told him. “I expect you to have everything moved by this time tomorrow.”

Jonaton picked up his skirts in both hands and raced to find Hakkon. Kordas looked after him, vaguely certain that he had left something vital out of his admonitions, but not sure what it was.

No matter. I’ll find out, and probably sooner rather than later.

He looked up at the winter sky past the branches of the trees and the shimmer of the Veil. Well, it could be worse. It could be raining.

And at exactly that moment, a fat drop of water hit him in the eye.

Shaking his head and laughing to himself, Kordas set off for his inspection of the defenses on the top of the wall. He was accompanied along the way by a satisfied-looking Sydney, who had the look of a cat that had definitely been up to something.