PART II
CHAPTER THREE
1—Kaeleer
Saetan smiled dryly at his reflection. His full head of black hair was more silvered at the temples than it had been five years ago, but the lines left in his face by illness and despair had softened while the laugh lines had deepened.
Turning from the mirror, he strolled the length of the second-floor gallery. His bad leg still stiffened if he walked too long, but he no longer needed that damned cane. He laughed softly. Jaenelle was a bracing tonic in more ways than one.
As he descended the staircase that ended in the informal reception room, he noticed the tall, slim woman watching him through narrowed eyes. He also noticed the ring of keys attached to her belt and felt relieved that finding the current housekeeper had been so easy.
"Good afternoon," he said pleasantly. "Are you Helene?"
"And what if I am?" She crossed her arms and tapped her foot.
Well, he hadn't expected an open-armed welcome, but still . . . He smiled at her. "For a staff who's had no one to serve for so long and so little incentive, you've kept the place quite well."
Helene's shoulders snapped back and her eyes glinted with anger. "We care for the Hall because it's the Hall." Her eyes narrowed even further. "And who are you?" she demanded.
He raised an eyebrow. "Who do you think I am?"
"An interloper, that's what I think," Helene snapped, placing her hands on her hips. "One of those who sneaks in here from time to time to gawk and 'soak up the atmosphere.'"
Saetan laughed. "They'd do well not to soak up too much of the atmosphere of this place. Although it was always calmer than its Terreille counterpart. I suppose after so many years away, I am an interloper of sorts, but . . ." He raised his right hand. As the Black Jewel in the ring flashed, there was an answering rumble from the stones of SaDiablo Hall.
Helene paled and stared at him.
He smiled. "You see, my dear, it still answers my call. And I'm afraid I'm about to wreak havoc with your routine."
Helen fumbled a low curtsy. "High Lord?" she stammered.
He bowed. "I'm opening the Hall."
"But . . ."
Saetan stiffened. "There's a problem with that?"
There was a gleam in Helene's gold eyes as she briskly wiped her hands on her large white apron. "A thorough cleaning will help, to be sure, but"—she looked pointedly at the drapes—"some refurbishing would help even more."
The tension drained out of him. "And give you something to be proud of instead of having to make do with an empty title?"
Helene blushed and chewed her lip.
Hiding a smile, Saetan vanished the drop cloths and studied the room. "New drapes and sheers definitely. With a good polishing, the wood pieces will still do, providing the preservation spells have held and they're structurally sound. New sofas and chairs. Plants by the windows. A few new paintings for the walls as well. New wallpaper or paint? What do you think?"
It took Helene a moment to find her voice. "How many rooms are you thinking of restoring?"
"This one, the formal receiving room across the hall, the dining room, my public study, my suite, a handful of guest rooms—and a special suite for my Lady."
"Then perhaps your Lady would like to oversee the redecorating."
Saetan looked at her with horrified amusement. "No doubt she would. However, my Lady will be twelve in four months, and I'd much prefer that she live in a suite I've decorated on her behalf than that I live in a Hall decorated with her somewhat . . . eclectic . . . tastes."
Helene stared at him for a moment but refrained from asking the question he saw in her eyes. "I could have some swatch books brought up to the Hall for you to choose from."
"An excellent idea, my dear. Do you think you can have this place presentable in four months?"
"The staff is rather small, High Lord," Helene said hesitantly.
"Then hire the help you need." Saetan strolled to the door that opened onto the great hall. "I'll meet you again at the end of the week. Is that sufficient time?"
"Yes, High Lord." She curtsied again.
Having been born in the slums of Draega, Hayll's capital, as the son of an indifferent whore, he'd never expected or wanted servants to grovel in his presence. He didn't mention this to Helene because, if he read her right, that was the last curtsy he would ever receive.
At the end of the great hall, he hesitated before opening the door of his public study. He walked around the room, lightly touching the covered furniture, grimacing slightly at his dusty fingertips.
He'd once ruled Dhemlan Kaeleer from this room. Still ruled, he reminded himself. He'd given Dhemlan Terreille to Mephis when he became a Guardian, but not her sister land in the Shadow Realm.
Ah, Kaeleer. It had always been a sweet wine for him, with its deeper magic and its mysteries. Now those mysteries were coming out of the mist once more, and the magic was still strong. Strand by strand, Jaenelle was rebuilding the web, calling them all to the dance.
He hoped she'd be pleased to have the use of this place. He hoped he'd be invited when she established her own court. He wanted to see whom she selected for her First Circle, wanted to see the faces attached to that list of names. Did they know about each other? Or him?
Saetan shook his head and smiled.
Whether she'd intended to or not, his fair-haired daughter of the soul had certainly thrown him back among the living.
2—Terreille
Surreal switched the basket of groceries from one hand to the other and fished her keys out of her trouser pocket as she climbed the stairs to her third-floor apartment. When she reached the landing and saw the dark shape curled up against her door, the keys vanished, replaced by her favorite stiletto.
The woman pushed the matted black hair from her face and staggered to her feet.
"Tersa," Surreal whispered, vanishing the stiletto as she leaped toward the swaying woman.
"You must tell him," Tersa muttered.
Surreal dropped the basket and wrapped her arm around Tersa's waist. After calling in her keys and unlocking the door, she half-carried the muttering woman to the sofa, swearing under her breath at the condition Tersa was in.
She retrieved the basket and locked the door before returning to the sofa with a small glass of brandy.
"You must tell him," Tersa muttered, weakly batting at the glass.
"Drink this. You'll feel better," Surreal said sternly. "I haven't seen him in months. He doesn't have much use for me anymore."
Tersa grabbed Surreal's wrist and said fiercely, "Tell him to beware of the High Priest of the Hourglass. He's not a forgiving man when someone threatens what is his. Tell him to beware of the Priest."
Sighing, Surreal pulled Tersa to her feet and helped the older woman shuffle to the bathroom.
Tell him? She didn't want to get anywhere near him.
And what was she going to do with Tersa? There were only two beds in the place. She knew better than to give up her own, so Tersa would have to use Sadi's. But Hell's fire, he'd become so sensitive about having a woman in his room, he could tell if there had been a different cleaning woman, even if she came only once. Shit. He wasn't likely to show up—sweet Darkness, please don't let him show up—but if he did and he objected to Tersa's using his bed, he could throw her out.
Surreal stripped off Tersa's tattered clothing. "Come on, Tersa. You need a hot bath, a decent meal, and a good night's sleep."
"You must tell him."
Surreal closed her eyes. She owed him. She never forgot that she owed him. "I'll tell him. Somehow, I'll tell him."
3—Terreille
After several minutes of uncomfortable silence, Philip Alexander shifted on the couch and faced his niece. He reached for her limp hand. She pulled away from his touch.
Frustrated, Philip raked his fingers through his hair and tried, once more, to be reasonable.
"Jaenelle, we're not doing this to be cruel. You're a sick little girl, and we want to help you get better."
"I'm not sick," Jaenelle said softly, staring straight ahead.
"Yes, you are." Philip kept his voice firm but gentle. "You can't tell the difference between make-believe and the real world."
"I know the difference."
"No, you don't," Philip insisted. He rubbed his forehead. "These friends, these places you visit . . . they aren't real. They were never real. The only reason you see them is because you're not well."
Pain, confusion, and doubt filled her summer-sky blue eyes. "But they feel so real," she whispered.
Philip pulled her close to him, grateful that she didn't push him away. He hugged her as if that would cure what years of treatment hadn't. "I know they feel real to you, sweetheart. That's the problem, don't you see? Dr. Carvay is the leading healer for—"
Jaenelle twisted out of his arms. "Carvay is not a healer, he's—"
"Jaenelle!" Philip took a deep breath. "That's exactly what we're talking about. Making up vicious stories about Dr. Carvay isn't going to help you. Making up stories about magical creatures—"
"I don't talk about them anymore."
Philip sighed, frustrated. That was true. She'd been cured or had outgrown those fantasies, but the stories she made up now were a different coat cut from the same cloth. A much more dangerous coat.
Philip rose and straightened his jacket. "Maybe . . . maybe if you work hard and let Dr. Carvay help you, you'll be cured this time and will be able to come home for good. In time for your birthday."
Jaenelle gave him a look he couldn't decipher.
Philip guided her to the door. "The carriage is outside. Your father and grandmother will go with you, help you get settled."
As he watched the carriage disappear down the long drive, Philip sincerely hoped that this time would be the last time.