“I have to.” He shrugged to indicate the futility of it. In his normal voice, he added, “We will also step up her education. She is very sharp for a girl, and I suspect boredom with her studies has allowed for mischief. I also request that you reach out to her, my dear. Become her friend. I think you could be a positive influence on her.”
Oh, dear gods. Karigan hardly knew what to do with children under the best of circumstances, much less with such a beastly imp who hated her. Well, she would not be staying around for much longer and would not have to deal with Arhys forever. “I’ll think about it,” she said.
The professor nodded as if her reply was about what he had expected. He turned to leave, but she tugged on his sleeve.
“The Eletian,” she mouthed.
The professor’s wolfish eyebrows shadowed his eyes. He shook his head subtly and bent close to whisper in her ear. “I asked. The opposition said no. Too risky. I’m sorry.”
“I am sorry as well,” she murmured.
“Promise me you will not go after him.”
She nodded because that was what was expected of her. He expected compliance of a woman of his time, but she, of course, was not of this time. She did not, however, have to feign looking upset.
“Very well,” the professor said aloud. “I’ve a few matters to settle at the university today. I shall see you again at suppertime. Also, think on Arhys and how you two might make peace.”
She did not reply, but glowered toward the window. The professor sighed, then left her, once again closing the door behind him as he retreated into the corridor.
Karigan tugged the map of the Capital out from her sleeve. It disappointed her, angered her even, that the professor and his opposition would do nothing to help Lhean, but she hadn’t really expected their aid. Cade’s group was right—the professor and his opposition were a bunch of useless old men. Would Cade’s group help her? She did not know, nor did she know when she’d see Cade again to ask him. Time was slipping away, and the longer she waited, the less of a chance she had of reaching Lhean. She had little idea what she’d face if she tried to enter the Capital by herself, but at least she had a map to show her the way. She also had the entire day to plan.
When she thought of time slipping away, Captain Mapstone’s riddle came back to her.
The scything moon is held captive in the prison of forgotten days. Seek it in the den of the three-faced reptile, for you are the blade of the shadow cast. Beware! The longer you linger, the faster we spin apart.
The final line seemed to reinforce the idea that she was running out of time, that the longer she hesitated to act, the less likely she was to reach home. And if she succeeded in reaching home, would she be too late to prevent the fall of Sacoridia?
• • •
Through the rest of the day, Karigan ran through several scenarios for finding and rescuing Lhean, but all of them were incomplete. She knew too little about the outside world and how she might move safely through it. The professor had done his job of protecting her all too well.
Her planning alternated with quiet recitations of the captain’s riddle as she paced her room. She hoped some inspiration would reveal all to her and somehow tell her both how to save Lhean and how to get home, but none was forthcoming.
She peered into her shard of the looking mask, shivering as she remembered the dream of the mirror eyes. The shard likewise remained elusive. She saw only her reflection.
She decided she must destroy the first message from Captain Mapstone telling her to go to the Heroes Portal. She did not wish to leave behind any evidence that might lead to the tombs. At first she wondered how she might destroy it without attracting attention, then an idea set in. She strode down to the privy, locked herself inside, and ripped up the message. She did so with some regret because it was a link to home.
She dropped the shredded pieces into the sitting bowl and pulled the big lever. She watched sadly as the paper whirled out of sight down unknown pipes and into the fathomless depths.
I will see Captain Mapstone soon, and everyone else, too, she thought, more determined than ever. She returned to her room to resume planning. Tonight was as good a time as any to move and she was tired of waiting.
At supper, it was just her and the professor dining on boiled dinner. Or rather, the professor dined. Karigan stared at her portion with lip curled at the stench of cabbage. Why did her final supper have to be this? Luckily there were dinner rolls.
She had hoped Cade would join them, but he rarely ate supper with them, so she was not really expecting him. Had he been there, however, she would have found a way to speak privately with him, told him what she planned to do. Would he have helped her or tried to dissuade her? Perhaps it was better she did not see him, though it gave her pangs of regret.
“You look preoccupied tonight, my dear,” the professor said.
Karigan looked up, startled. She must not give away her intent. “I am sorry, Uncle, but I am not fond of boiled dinner. I was wondering if there might be some soup left over from midday.”
“Is that all?” He nodded at Grott, indicating the butler should look into the availability of soup. “You look as if you had the weight of the world on your shoulders.”
She did rather feel that way, but said, “It’s the cabbage. And corned beef.” She shuddered.
The professor laughed. “I shall have cook strike it from the menu then. No more boiled dinner for my niece.”
No, there certainly would not be. She was not his niece nor was she staying.