City of Snakes - Book 2 The Council of the Light

-ten-

Ohlo was trying to stay awake. Clarence could tell by the way he kept talking and moving that he was struggling to keep his eyes open. He also knew, from experience, that Jumping with two people was physically exhausting. Every muscle in Ohlo's body would be shaking from the exertion; his very bones would be aching. That he had stayed awake for this long was pretty impressive. The fact he was trying so hard told Clarence that there was something here he didn't want Clarence to see. Eventually, Ohlo would fall into sweet oblivion and then Clarence would find out what the merchant was hiding.

If he was right, and Beatrix was here, that meant Fraggle was wrong. Beatrix was indeed Grendal's prisoner, and that made it likely that Grendal was indeed involved with the Humanists. The next question then: Are the Humanists and the assassinations linked? Grendal was Siberia Pendragon's former lover- the first to be assassinated. He had been so very close to Clarence's father- not hard to betray him. He'd been belittled by the Council. Been called Edwards Dog. Things like that played on Grendal's mind and caused him to act viciously.

Even so, Clarence had a hard time believing that Grendal wanted to be in charge. Calculating, cold and heartless he might have been, but Grendal was still happier behind the throne than sitting on it. At every opportunity Grendal rolled Clarence in front of crowds to 'look the part,' and that he would go against King Edward was just too difficult to comprehend. He was Clarence's father's best friend. His closest advisor and Clarence really did think that meant something to both of them.

Clarence got up and helped himself to wine, he poured a cup for Ohlo, knowing that the alcohol would only exhaust him further and make him fall asleep. He supposed he had a few hours until Grendal's people turned up.

Ohlo seemed glad that Clarence was choosing to drink rather than question him. When Clarence took a book from the library and slowly turned the pages, Ohlo's eyes started to get heavy. Eventually, his head dropped and his breath came in long snores. Clarence continued to read for half a bell more, waiting for Ohlo to slip into a deeper sleep. Finally, when he set his cup down and Ohlo didn't start awake, he got up and went to the door.

"Lord Ohlo requires me to check on the girl," he said. It was a gamble to assume Beatrix was the hidden thing, but the servant nodded. He left, and came back with the merchant.

"I am surprised, Mr Green, Lord Ohlo said he didn't want to have access to her."

"He doesn't want access, he wants me to check."

The merchant took a bow, "Follow me," he said, though he looked far from convinced.

They walked together to the top of the house and paused by an attic room. "She hasn't been any trouble at all, we've given her everything she asked for but she wants to know how much longer she must wait."

Clarence nodded, "The key?"

"It's open."

The merchant motioned for Clarence to go up. It was odd that Beatrix was not locked inside. Maybe she was so depressed by her captivity that she no longer wanted to run. Light, he hoped it was her- and that she wasn't too badly hurt by her captors. He wasn't sure he could cope with the disappointment if it wasn't.

He took a deep breath, told himself that as soon as he saw her he would make the portal and Jump them as far away as he possibly could.

Reaching the top of the stairs, Clarence slowly opened the door to the attic room. A raven haired woman was sitting in the window with an embroidery hoop. Clarence froze. Hardly daring to believe what he saw. The fact that he had never seen her embroidering before didn't even register as odd. He'd found her. He'd found Beatrix.