Surrender to the Will of the Night Read Online Free Page A

Probably more than a hundred fifty. But he lied a lot. And he had the sense of humor of a ten-year-old.
    Hecht glanced at the door. Who was on duty? Madouc’s men knew their principal sometimes became involved in spirited discussions with himself. Only Madouc dared step in to make sure they did not turn violent.
    The old man said, “Well?”
    “Uhm.”
    “So it’s going to be one of those intellectual discussions?”
    Hecht smiled. Which felt odd. “Philosophical, perhaps. I just realized that I seldom smile.”
    “Your sense of humor has atrophied. What is it?”
    “Sir?”
    “You summoned me. You must have a reason.”
    Hecht managed to hold his tongue. He had done nothing of the sort. But he had wished that he could see the old man.
    “I didn’t, but I’m glad you’re here. You can help with a couple of things.” Hecht talked. In particular, about what Ferris Renfrow had said. “I’m interested in all that. And even more interested in finding out about Renfrow.” He related what little de Bos and Vircondelet had unearthed.
    The longer Hecht talked the more agitated Februaren became.
    “You’re disturbed. Why is that?”
    “An unhappy suspicion. Has anyone accused the man of sorcery?”
    “No. But he scares everybody. And has done for as long as you have. And he does things he shouldn’t be able to do.”
    “Which you would accuse me of, too. I’ll check his record, then. As he seems to be checking yours.”
    “More than once he’s told me he believes I’m Else Tage, a captain of the Sha-lug pointed out to him in al-Qarn when he was visiting Gordimer the Lion and his wild sorcerer.”
    “That would be when he acquired the boy. Armand.”
    “Yes. Osa Stile. Muniero Delari’s erstwhile bed pet. Now playing night games with Hugo Mongoz himself.”
    Flash of the Februaren mischief. “And getting nothing to his friends outside Krois. The Dreangereans think he’s dead.”
    Hecht steeled himself. “Have you seen Anna? And the girls?”
    “No. But Muno has them to the house regularly. Anna misses you. She and Heris have become friends. And Heris has become adept with the Construct.”
    Hecht was surprised at how emotional he was about his makeshift family. Anna Mozilla was not his wife but he ached with longing for her. Vali and Lila were not his flesh but he missed them more than his true daughters. Of whom there were two. Almost forgotten. Along with a real wife. Whose face he could no longer picture. None of them seen in years, and then usually only for a few brief hours before the Lion sped him off on some other deadly mission.
    Cloven Februaren told him, “You’re not a bad man, Piper Hecht. Neither was Else Tage. We’re all slaves of circumstance. And circumstance can be crueler than any devil.”
    Hecht understood. It was what he needed to hear at that moment. Except: “The Adversary is determined to drag me down.”
    “And? Are you going to claim some special place on the Rolls of Temptation?”
    “Helspeth.” He had said nothing to anyone, ever before. “The Princess Apparent. I have an obsession. From the first time I saw her, as a captive in Plemenza. I saved her life at al-Khazen. The insanity is mutual. We’ve exchanged guarded letters. I’m here, now. In Alten Weinberg. With Helspeth less than half a mile away.” Hecht was astonished. He was confessing what he was barely able to admit to himself. “I’m terrified that I’ll do something mad. That I’ll ruin myself and drag the Princess with me.”
    The humor and mischievous sparkle fled Cloven Februaren. “Wow. Seeds of an international epic. I’d better shelve my lesser concerns and concentrate on this wedding. It is still on?”
    Hecht did not catch the gentle sarcasm.
    “Katrin worships the ground Jaime walks on. Though Jaime needs a good solid ass-kicking, to borrow a notion from Pinkus Ghort.”
    “Who is getting fat commanding the City Regiment. Bronte Doneto and Pinkus Ghort make quite a team. Lords of Brothe,