Chapter 6
KERIK
Kerik lies awake in Perl’s bed as he listens to Perl’s breathing grow soft. When he dares risk rolling over to look down at the thrall bed, lit by the dim glow of the ice light, he is certain Perl is sleeping.
But he knows sleep will not come so easily to him.
Not with his mind whirling with everything Perl has told him. It sounds like pure heresy or the talk of someone who has lost their mind. Perl has claimed, quite solemnly, that he cannot lie. But, Kerik wonders, if perhaps that is the lie.
What he has told Kerik, about the faeries and demons and Zai, simply cannot be the truth.
Perhaps Perl is trying to fill his mind with these outlandish claims and nonsense, to ensnare him in this world.
Was it always Perl’s plan to bring him here?
Had he somehow used his powers to trick Kerik into thinking this was his idea.
Perhaps the tea Perl had him drink affected Kerik’s will somehow.
And now Perl has him in Vylenor, he means to make him a bed slave after all?
The faeries take mortals for their beds.
And Prince Vane requested him for a night.
Perhaps Perl’s real plan is to sell him. There is a luxoli house in Lunatum where men are auctioned for a night with whoever offers the most coin. Kerik has often wished he could visit that place. Buy a man for the night and get to do whatever he wished.
Although, Kerik cannot imagine how what Perl has told him will seduce him into being an obedient faerie thrall that he can sell to advance his place in the faerie court.
Kerik feels queasy. He tries to deduce what he can know for sure is true; to count facts he knows to grasp something solid and real in this swirling, uneasy place.
He is on Ulla. In the Ice Court of Vylenor.
There can be no doubt that this is any other place.
He has seen faerie creatures with his own eyes.
He has seen magic. He traveled through a magic door.
He is in a palace that feels like it could only exist in dreams. A place he only knew of as a tale.
A place no mortal has ever travelled to and returned.
He knows things no other man in Azuria knows.
And what will he be able to do with such knowledge?
The fae are not just real. The fae are rich. Wealthy in a manner that even the Jewel of the Empire cannot imagine. And the fae can do magic. Magic is real and Kerik can feel it. It drips from the walls here.
Perl claims Kerik will learn magic. That he is some fated Magician. What if that were actually true? What would the shame of being a luxorite or bastardy mean if Kerik was a wizard? He could perform miracles. What if he offered Selim dark magic to win his wars in return for his title?
He should investigate this place further. Who knows how long they will remain here. Perl claims he will acquire the magic sword he came for at the Silver Ball on the morrow. This night could be his only chance to learn about Vylenor before he is delivered to Doroth Zain.
He slips, silently, from the bed. He moves carefully as he steps around Perl, on the floor, not wanting to wake him.
He notices that Perl is sleeping in his full leather outfit.
He has not changed into a sleeping shirt as he bid Kerik to do.
He wears everything but his boots and jewelry.
Still covered from neck to ankles to wrists.
For some reason Perl chooses to sleep as modestly clad as a bride of Zai. Although Kerik has heard that even the Brides do not sleep in their long robes.
Who told him that? Some boisterous man who liked to brag of his knowledge of the ways of women.
Had it been Atticul?
No, it had been his father, one night in his cups. The brides of Zai sleep naked. He had said, as if he knew. Perhaps he did.
Sleeping so dressed cannot be comfortable. Is that something Perl prefers? Does he never undress? He must have removed his clothes to bathe. Is he fully dressed because he is sharing a chamber? Does he worry that Kerik will try and ravage him in the night?
Kerik thinks that if he did intend to ravage Perl that leather outfit would not stop him. He would rip it all away if he so chose. Perl is just lucky Kerik has no intention of doing such a thing.
Kerik looks around the chamber. Other than the black-framed bed heaped with furs and silks and the thrall bed, a marble table and a pair of hard chairs there is little of note in the simple room.
In one corner is a tall work desk of white wood. There are a few items on the desk. A small silver incense holder, empty of incense. Two bottles each labelled. The labels are written in a language that Kerik cannot read. It’s not Magaar. But it looks similar. Probably Old Magaar.
The final item on the desk is a small lidded pot that seems to be made of carved marble.
The lid is set with a large blue gemstone.
Kerik lifts off the lid. It is oddly heavy.
Inside the pot is a ring. Kerik plucks it out.
It’s a thick, carved piece of silver. Unadorned but beautifully made.
This ring is surely magical in some way.
When he inspects it more closely he sees that inside is written the words ‘Silence for Secrets’.
Kerik slips the ring onto the middle finger of his left hand. He expects something to happen. But nothing does. He looks back to Perl. Wondering if putting on the ring would have woken him. But he is still sleeping.
Disappointed that the ring he was so sure was magical has done nothing, he decides to see what else he can find in Perl’s chambers.
Along with the door that leads to the passageway outside, the one Perl sealed with magic, there are two others.
One of them leads to the beautiful bathing chamber with the pool shaped like a blooming rose.
Kerik goes to inspect the other door. It is unlocked and leads only to a small dressing space.
There are shelves lining the walls but most of them are empty. It seems Perl does not own many other items of clothing. Kerik looks down at the sleeping shirt he wears. Did Perl bring it from this chamber? Is this Perl’s own? Is that why he is sleeping in his leather outfit?
But Vane had produced fresh linens for the bathing chamber with magic. So perhaps Perl produced Kerik’s sleeping attire also using magic, or certainly could have done, and could have produced one for himself, but for some reason, still chose to sleep in his restrictive outfit.
On one of the dressing chamber shelves is a small basket. In it are two hip cloths. Both simple, plain white linen and rather small. They would fit Perl’s narrow hips, Kerik thinks. Although he cannot think that Perl has much call for wearing a hip cloth.
There’s nothing else of interest in the dressing chamber.
Kerik leaves and looks around the room. Does Perl really have so few possessions?
Perhaps this is simply the way of the faeries.
If things can simply be created with magic there is no need for them to be stored ready for use and all the faeries keep their chambers so bare.
If he is to escape whatever fate Perl has planned for him and learn more secrets about the faerie realm he needs to leave this chamber. But Perl cast extra wards on the door. Kerik walks toward it. He can see the faint glow of magic.
When Kerik is close enough, he reaches out and touches the door with his hand. He feels a distinct sensation. A warm pleasure he is sure means magic. A spark inside him, almost like a small spend.
This door is locked by magic. But he saw Perl do that magic. He saw the way Perl waved his hand. What would happen if Kerik just did the same?
He feels it like an instinct, like something he once learned to do, but long ago, so long ago he does not remember. Like something from another life. He waves his hand at the door and hears a soft click.
The feeling that rushes through him along with that sound is so intense he gasps.
His body sags as he leans his forehead to the door.
He is panting. But when he catches his breath, he realises the door is moving as he leans against it.
The door is opening. Kerik steps back in shock.
But the door before him is ajar. Did he do that? Did he just perform magic?
He has faerie blood and he can perform magic. So it’s as simple as that. Just a matter of waving in the air. He will be that wizard, he thinks, as he steps through the door.
Outside is an empty passageway, glittering with the same mysterious white light that is everywhere in the Ice Palace.
He looks up and down, taking a long time summoning his courage, but there is no one around. No one. He steps out.
Kerik walks along the passageway in the direction of the Ice Hall. He takes several turns, trying to remember the route they took to return here from the hall.
But it's difficult. All the passageways look the same. It is not long before Kerik is sure he is lost. He has not found his way to the wider corridors that lead to the hall. This place is even more of a maze than the Rose Palace. He turns around, thinking he ought to go back. If he doesn’t, he might not be able to find his way to return to Perl’s chamber.
He hasn’t gone more than a few paces when he hears voices.
The first he has heard in these deserted passages.
He realises he’s made a mistake. The passage he is in is long and bare, there’s nowhere to hide.
He’d grown too bold. Assumed there was no one around and now he’s trapped.
He holds his breath as two fae guards walk around the corner.
And react to his presence not at all.
They simply continue walking nearer. There is no way they have not seen him. Why have they not challenged him?
They keep going until they get so close that they appear to be on a path to walk right into him. Kerik realises with a strange excitement that they cannot see him.