The Blending 07 - Deceptions, page 33
“As long as the words keep coming out of you, you can get two cups of tea if you like,” Idresia assured him with a small, deliberately evil smile. “In fact, I’ll even pour the tea for you, but only if you start talking right now.”
“Your word is my command, O Divine One,” Driff said with a bow before gathering her in under his arm. They were in the middle of the warehouse floor and the tea was in their living quarters, so he started them walking in that direction. “Yesterday that Blending I recruited followed the directions your people supplied to the house where the renegade is living, and they arrived just in time. A lone man left the house on horseback in a very secretive manner, and a few minutes later two other men appeared to follow the first.”
“Was the Blending able to follow, or did they lose the three?” Idresia asked, her eyes having gone a bit wide. “Or did they want my people to follow?”
“I’m told that the Blending members were on horseback themselves, so they left your people continuing their watch on the house and they followed the three.” Driff was a bit disturbed over keeping the entire story from Idresia, but if she learned too soon that it was a High Blending rather than a Middle one that was helping, she might not be able to keep the fact as quiet as it needed to be.
“The Blending members followed the three all the way back to our part of the city,” Driff continued. “The lone man dismounted and tied his horse before going the rest of the way on foot, and the two who followed him did the same. When the Blending reached the place where the horses were tied, they also dismounted and then sent their entity to follow.”
“It must be so exciting to be able to do that,” Idresia said, definite wistfulness in her voice as they entered their living quarters. “So what did their entity see when it followed?”
“Their entity discovered that the lone man was named Rimen Howser, and his mind was as badly twisted as his body,” Driff answered, faint regret still in him that he hadn’t been able to help the poor fool. “He went directly to an alleyway behind a tavern, and once he was in the shadows he pulled a knife out of his clothing where it had been hidden.”
“Was he the one who killed those people?” Idresia asked, disturbed enough to turn from the teapot before she’d even put her hand on it. “I heard about the murders, and made sure to be fully alert every time I went out.”
“The Blending is certain he was the murderer, so that’s another feather in your cap,” Driff said as he sat down at the table. “It was your people who let the Blending find the man, and now he’s no longer a danger to the innocent.”
Driff then went on to describe how the madman quickly lost patience with waiting in the dark, tried to pull someone into the alleyway from the street, and how the murderer was subsequently killed himself. Idresia listened quietly as she poured tea for the both of them and carried the cups to the table, then sat beside him.
“The two men who had followed the madman stopped him from claiming another victim,” Driff said after sipping at the tea. “They didn’t mention they’d been following him, but they also didn’t kill him on purpose. The madman struggled so hard that he ended up breaking his own neck, and when members of the city guard showed up and then congratulated the two followers for being heroes, the Blending got an idea.”
Idresia raised her brows, but this time didn’t say anything. A faint disturbance was obviously still with her, but she also seemed to be in the process of pushing the disturbance away.
“One of the Blending members told me that they touched the two only very lightly,” Driff said. “Apparently both men were shocked that they were being congratulated instead of accused, and being called heroes to boot. The men seemed to like the idea of being heroes instead of bullies, and it took only a small hint from the Blending to convince the two that they wanted to enroll in one of the training classes and then join the city guard.”
“It’s too bad there were only two of them,” Idresia remarked. “If the renegade’s whole force disappeared to come over to our side, it would save us all a lot of trouble.”
“You don’t know how right you are,” Driff told her with a laugh of renewed pleasure. “The two men decided that they would be killed if just the two of them tried to walk away, so they came up with a different plan. They agreed to talk to the rest of their companions who believed the way they did, and try to convince the others to leave with them. They started to talk to people last night when they got back, and today a number of their recruits went to visit the guardsmen in the other locations. There were ten other locations, and we now know where they all used to be.”
“Used to be,” Idresia echoed, delight beginning to shine in her lovely eyes. “Don’t tell me that those two managed to recruit all the renegade’s men?”
“They actually got more than half, and we now have almost two hundred newly useful citizens in the city,” Driff responded happily. “The original two had just a little help from the Blending in convincing the men they spoke to, but again I was told that the effort was no more than a nudge or two. Most of those men apparently want to be useful members of our society, but no one ever gave them the chance to do it before.”
“What a waste,” Idresia said, now showing heavy disgust. “Those nobles not only wasted their own lives, they forced the same on people who had almost nothing to do with them. You have no idea how happy I am that we’re now changing that.”
“I think I do, because I’m at least as happy,” Driff assured her, then he laughed again. “What I most miss seeing is that renegade’s face when he found out how many of his ‘guard force’ had walked away from him. His guard commander gathered up the remnants left, then sent some of them to various new locations. Your people followed to learn where those new locations are, and now we know exactly. They might as well have left the men where they were for all the good moving them did.”
“If there has to be wasted effort, I’m glad it’s theirs rather than ours,” Idresia said with satisfaction. “That was quite a lot to have happened in just one day.”
“But that’s not all that happened,” Driff corrected, stopping her in the midst of rising from the table. “Do you remember the meeting place the renegade used to speak to his new ‘followers?’ Well, he used it again today to bring the men together again, but he had a bit of bad news. Only two of the men showed up, and one of them was not Holdis Ayl.”
“But that’s not bad news,” Idresia protested with a laugh that wrinkled her nose. “Now we don’t have to worry about that madman joining his efforts to the renegade’s.”
“I’m told that the renegade really lost his temper when he learned that Ayl came the first time only because he was curious,” Driff said, nodding his agreement. “He also had four young people with him who were all Spirit magic users, and the four linked to put the remaining two followers under their control. Then the renegade asked the two how many men they could really provide, and blew up a second time when the two admitted that between them they could only produce one other man.”
“That’s probably because of the new policies,” Idresia said, clearly enjoying an inner picture of the renegade’s fury. “The men Meerk and that other man would have recruited would be the sort who were bound and determined to get a free ride no matter who was in charge. Most of that sort are gone from the city, either leaving on their own or having been thrown out after being caught doing something illegal. The only ones left are those who enjoy grumbling no matter how satisfied they are.”
“So my guess would be that the renegade won’t be calling on his new followers again,” Driff said after sipping at his tea. “And now that most of his guard force has disappeared, the renegade will most likely do one of only two things. Either he’ll leave again to find other men to bring his force up to what it was originally, or he’ll go ahead with his plans using the men he has left.”
“I’ll bet he chooses to go on with his plans,” Idresia said after only a moment of consideration. “The man has to be made of pure arrogance to have tried this to begin with, and arrogance like that will refuse to retreat. He’ll consider it unnecessary weakness, and will forge ahead with whatever he means to do.”
“And he also seems to have no idea what he’s up against,” Driff agreed for the second time. “Almost everyone in the city now knows something about what a Blending is capable of, but the renegade has apparently made no effort to learn about what he means to challenge. He’s still picturing things the way they used to be, which is the blind part of his arrogance. And speaking about people who are determined, Issini ought to be here soon with her noble friend.”
“Yes, I know,” Idresia said with a sigh, all amusement leaving her. “Do you have any idea what we can do about the man? From what you said, we no longer need the information he thinks he has.”
“I’ve been thinking about the situation since yesterday, and I’ve finally decided which way I’ll handle it,” Driff answered with a sigh of his own. “The man risked his neck when he let Issini bring him here, trusting that we would not betray him. All we can do is tell him the absolute truth, and let him choose what will happen next. We—”
Driff broke off at the sound of a knock at the door, the knock also keeping Idresia from commenting. Her disturbed expression said she’d wanted to say something, but instead she rose and went to the door. When she opened it, Issini stood there with a very old man just behind her.
“Hi, Har,” Issini said to Idresia, using the name only she used for her friend. “We’re back just the way we said we’d be.”
“Come on in, Ran,” Idresia invited as she stepped back out of the way. “Driff is here, and he needs to be introduced to Edmin.”
Driff got to his feet as the two people entered the apartment, and then Driff was able to get a better look at the “old man.” Earth magic told Driff that the newcomer wasn’t in the least old, and that despite the really good makeup and wig he’d been provided with.
“Edmin, welcome,” Driff said, putting out his hand. “I’ve heard a lot about you, and I’ve been looking forward to meeting you.”
“Oddly enough, I’ve been looking forward to this meeting as well,” Edmin answered, taking Driff’s hand after a very short hesitation. “Desperate situations aren’t supposed to provide pleasant surprises, but I seem to have been getting more than my share of them lately.”
“I’d say you’re in for more of the same, but we’ll get into that more fully in a moment,” Driff replied, gesturing Edmin and Issini into taking seats at the table. “At the moment, I’d like to know what pleasant surprises you’re talking about—if you don’t mind sharing the information.”
“I don’t really mind, but the admission is bound to make me sound … unbearably pompous,” Edmin said with a faint smile as he seated Issini and then sat down himself. “I had certain very definite ideas about what ‘peasants’ are like, but I’ve been learning that there are too many exceptions to that simpleminded belief for the belief to still have much relevance. Using Issini and your lovely lady there as yardsticks, I’ve … begun to believe that this is the first time in my life that I’ve met any ‘real’ people. My former peers were so busy trying to outmaneuver and best each other that they never came in touch with true reality.”
“Real peers don’t fence for position and advantage, they enjoy each other’s company,” Driff said with a nod as he also resumed his seat. “Would either of you like some tea? I can testify that it’s fresh and hot.”
Both of the newcomers accepted the offer, which seemed to please Idresia. Driff’s beloved had been standing near the teapot, probably waiting for a chance to make the offer herself. Now that Driff had put the question and gotten the answer, Idresia would be free in a moment to sit down with them. It was mostly thanks to her that this meeting was being held, and Driff wanted her to be an integral part of it.
“All right, now we all have refreshment in front of us,” Driff said once Idresia had brought over the cups of tea and then had taken another moment to fetch a plate of small cakes before resuming her seat. “Idresia told me you offered us some information yesterday, Edmin, and in return you asked to be included in taking down the renegade named Noll. Do you still want to be part of the effort?”
“Of course,” Edmin answered at once, his teacup in his hands. “What would make you think I’d changed my mind?”
“Well, things have happened that make the information you have unnecessary,” Driff answered slowly as he studied the man. “We’re still willing to invite you to join us, but I’ve noticed in the past that some people become … uneasy if they can’t feel that they’ve paid their way. Have you come far enough from your former life to get past that?”
“Now that’s a good question,” Edmin muttered, his gaze inward rather than on Driff. “I’ll admit I experienced a moment of panic when you said you no longer needed my information, as though I, myself, had suddenly become useless. In my former life that would have been the case, but it isn’t the same here, is it? Why do you no longer need to know the locations of three of the groups of guardsmen Noll brought into the city?”
“Primarily because the guardsmen are no longer at those locations,” Driff answered, having already decided on how much to tell Edmin. “Idresia and her people were able to locate the house Noll is living in, and because of that some of our other people were able to … maneuver some of the guardsmen into wanting to desert Noll. That core group spread the idea a lot farther than we were expecting, and now Noll is left with less than half of the men he brought into the city with him. His guard commander moved the remaining men to new locations, ones we already know about.”
“I see,” Edmin said, and Driff was impressed to notice that Edmin had already adapted to the changed situation. “You definitely don’t need my information, or you would have made some effort to extract it without promising anything. Instead you’ve assured me of my place among you without my having to pay for it, and that’s the part I’m not sure about. If you don’t need my information, why do you feel you need me?”
“Actually, we don’t need you,” Driff told the man as gently as possible. “But you have a legitimate need to be part of our effort, and at the moment there’s no real reason to exclude you. That may change in just a little while, but we believe that every man should have the chance to do something positive with his life. If you still want to be part of our effort after you hear the rest of what I have to say, you’ll be given the chance.”
“Now, that sounds ominous,” Edmin remarked, leaning back in his chair to study Driff. “What can you possibly have to say that would make so much of a difference?”
“I have good news for you,” Driff said, watching the man with every bit of his talent. Earth magic let Driff know lie from truth because of bodily reactions, and those reactions would be critically important right now. “You told Idresia that you wanted to join our effort to stop the renegade Noll because Noll and his wife were responsible for your father’s death. It’s now my pleasure to tell you that your father isn’t dead, only wounded, and he’s currently in the process of healing quite nicely.”
Edmin didn’t say a word, but his sense of shock was so profound that Driff felt certain every Earth magic and Spirit magic user within a mile of the warehouse must be aware of the reaction. The man just sat and stared, but on the inside he floundered pitifully.
“What Driff didn’t mention is that he was the one who saved your father’s life,” Idresia said after a moment, her tone very gentle. “He’s an incredibly good healer in spite of being only a Middle talent, and that’s why the officials sent for him when they found your father’s wounded body. I happen to believe that no one else would have been able to save your father’s life.”
“Idresia’s one failing is her tendency toward blind prejudice,” Driff said with a small laugh, reaching over to squeeze Idresia’s hand. “Your father was badly hurt, Edmin, but I’m sure that most other healers would have been able to do what I did. But the point is still the same. Your father wasn’t killed by the Nolls, so now you have to decide whether or not you still want to help take them down.”
“And if I don’t, you’ll simply let me walk out of here in the same way I walked in,” Edmin said in a faint voice, back to staring at Driff again. “I’m willing to bet any amount of gold you name that that’s true, but it’s also the next thing to unimportant. Did you know who my father was when you healed him?”
“We all knew he was a noble, but we didn’t know he was Embisson Ruhl until after he’d been taken to the palace to recover,” Driff admitted. “Some of the servants there recognized him, and once he was strong enough he was questioned about what he was doing in the city. That’s when we learned about the Nolls.”
“And about me, I’ll wager,” Edmin said after draining his cup of tea. “I can tell how you feel about ‘nobles,’ undoubtedly the same way those ‘officials’ feel, but they still sent for you and you still healed one of your enemies. I should be finding it impossible to believe that all of you would do that, but for some reason I’m not. Where is the cell they have my father locked up in?”
“He isn’t in a cell,” Driff replied, wryly amused by the question. Edmin hadn’t changed quite as much as he seemed to believe … “He still needs a good deal of attention if he’s to recover completely, so they have him in one of the guest bedchambers in the palace. What they intend to do with him once he has recovered is something I don’t know.”
“But until then they’re treating him like a human being rather than unimportant dross which has already been defeated,” Edmin muttered, shaking his head. “As I said, only a little while ago I never would have believed that, but now … You asked me a question earlier, and now you deserve a truthful answer.”
Edmin’s last words had been in a normal voice, and now he stared straight at Driff with no attempt to avoid Driff’s gaze. Edmin still seemed partially in shock to Driff, but the former noble had apparently recovered full control of himself.
