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mine； for not thinking before I used magic on this； the price of using your heart before using your head。’ The price； too； for violating the Wizard’s Second Rule； he thought； but did not voice it。
The heavy folds of his robes swirled around him as he turned back to face her。 ‘Adie； think。 There must be someone who would know about this taint； someone who knows about the skrin。 Is there anyone you visited when searching knowledge of the underworld who would know something？ Even if it’s just a little； it might give me the clue I need to rid us of this。’
Her weight settled deeper into the pillows as she frowned in thought。 Finally； her head rolled from side to side。
‘When I visited the women with the gift； I be young。 They be old； at least older than I。 They would all be dead by now。’
Zedd stepped closer。 ‘Did any have daughters？ Daughters with the gift？’
Adie’s eyes came to his； her eyebrows lifted； and a smile grew on her finely wrinkled face。 ‘Yes！ One who taught me some of the most important things about the skrin had daughters。’ She propped herself up on her good elbow。 ‘Three daughters。’ Her grin grew。 They all had the gift。 They be little at the time； but they had the gift。 They would not be nearly as old as I。 If their mother lived long enough； she would have taught them what she knew。 That be the way of a sorceress。’
Despite the dull ache of a foreign magic in his bones； Zedd’s step was lively with excitement。 Then we must go to them！ Where are they？’
Adie winced as she sank back down on the pillows。 She drew the blanket up to her chest。 ‘Nicobarese。 They be in a remote part of Nicobarese。’
‘Bags。’ Zedd let out a sigh。 That’s a long way in the wrong direction。’ He stroked a thumb and finger down opposite sides of his smooth jaw。 ‘Can you think of anyone else？’
Adie whispered to herself as； one at a time； she lifted open the fingers of a closed hand。 ‘Sons；’ she muttered。 ‘She had only sons。’ She lifted open another finger。 ‘No； she didn’t know anything of the skrin。’ Finally； she lifted open the last finger。 ‘No children。’ Her hands fell limp to her sides。 ‘I be sorry； Zedd。 The three sisters be the only ones who might know something； and they be in Nicobarese。’
‘And this woman； their mother； where did she learn these things？ Maybe we could go there。’
Adie smoothed the blanket against her stomach。 Her hand slipped away to rest at her side。 The light only knows。 The only place I know we can go to seek answers be Nicobarese。’
Zedd pointed a bony finger skyward。 Then we go to Nicobarese！’
Adie looked at him dubiously。 ‘Zedd； there be Blood of the Fold in Nicobarese。 My name be remembered there。 And not remembered fondly。’
That was an awfully long time ago； Adie。 Two kings ago。’
Time means nothing to the Blood。’
He rubbed his chin as he thought。 ‘Well； no one knows who we are； we’ve been hiding our identity to remain out of the Keeper’s sight。 We will simply continue to be two wealthy travelers。’ He scowled at her。 ‘I’m already wearing this ridiculous outfit。’ The lavish robes they both wore had been her idea； and not one he enjoyed。
Adie shrugged。 ‘It would appear we have no choice。 What must be done； must be done。’ She grunted with the effort of sitting up in the bed。 ‘We must be on our way。’
Zedd waved his hand dismissively。 ‘You are weak and need rest。 I will secure us transportation。 It’s too difficult to ride horseback anymore。 I’ll hire us a coach； or something。’ He lifted an eyebrow as he gave her a sly smile。 ‘After all； if we’re going to wear these garish outfits； and feign being wealthy travelers； it would be best to play the part with a coach。’
She watched as he scrutinized himself in front of the tall； standing mirror。 He held the full robes out； examining their volume。 The robe was a heavy； maroon fabric； with black sleeves and cowled shoulders。 The cuffs of the sleeves had three rows of silver brocade。 Around the neck and down the front were bands of gold brocade woven in a coarser design。 The waist was held with a flashy； red satin belt set with a gold buckle。 The whole effect was so ostentatious it made him groan inwardly。
Well； necessary was necessary。 Zedd swept his arm across his middle while bowing dramatically。
‘How do I look； dear lady？’
Adie plucked a slice of brown bread from the tray。 ‘Foolish。’
He straightened in a rush and finally shook a finger at her。 ‘May I remind you that you picked it out！’
She shrugged。 ‘Revenge。 You picked mine。 I thought it only fitting to seek redress。’
He strode across the expanse of carpets in a huff； muttering that he thought she had gotten the better of the bargain by far。 ‘You get a little rest。 I’ll see about our transportation。’
Adie tore a chunk of bread off with her teeth and spoke around the mouthful as he headed for the door。 ‘Don’t forget your hat。’
Zedd froze with a wince。 He spun on the balls of his feet。 ‘Bags； woman！ Must I wear the hat； too！’
She chewed a moment and then swallowed。 ‘The man who sold us the outfit said it be all the rage among noblemen。’
Zedd forced out a noisy breath and then snatched the limp； red hat off the marble tabletop beside the double doors to the outer room。 He plopped it atop his wavy white hair。 ‘Better？’
‘The feather be crooked。’
He clenched his fists。 At last he reached up and rearranged the floppy hat； straightening the long peacock feather。
‘Happy？’
She smiled … at his expense； he presumed。 ‘Zedd； I said you look foolish only because you be such a handsome man that the fancy clothes look silly in trying to improve upon perfection。’
A grin stole back onto his face。 He gave another quick bow。 ‘Why； thank you； madam。’
She pulled the piece of bread in half。 And Zedd； be careful。’ He cocked his head with a questioning frown。 ‘Masquerading in that outfit； like the princess in the song； you may get your bottom pinched。’
Zedd gave her a mischievous wink。 ‘I won’t let any stray wench trespass on your territory。’
He canted his hat to a jaunty angle and； humming a merry tune； swept through the doors。 A cane； he thought。 Perhaps he should have a cane。 An ornate one； of course。 It seemed to him that a gentleman should have a proper cane。
CHAPTER 34
Warm air ascended the stairs from the dining room along with the buzz of the packed room。 The aroma of roasting meats drifted in from the kitchen to mix pleasantly with the sweet tang of pipe smoke。 Zedd rubbed his stomach as he descended the stairs； wondering if he might spare the time to sample a plate。
On the landing sat a tall basket holding three canes。 Zedd pulled the most ornate； a straight black cane with an elaborate head worked in silver； from the basket。 He tapped the flamboyant cane on the wood landing； testing its length and heft。 Seemed a tad heavy； he thought； but it would do as a proper accessory。
The proprietor； Master Hillman； a rotund man with his white shirtsleeves rolled up above his dimpled elbows and wearing a sparkling white apron； spied him as he reached the bottom of the steps and immediately rushed across the room； shoving men out of his way。 The man’s round； pink cheeks plumped out farther as his small mouth spread with a familiar grin。
‘Master Rybnik！ So good to see you again！’
Zedd almost turned to see to whom the man was speaking before he remembered that was the name he had given。 He had told the innkeeper that his name was Ruben Rybnik； and had given Adie’s name as Elda； saying she was his wife。 Zedd had always favored the name Ruben。 Ruben。 He rolled the sound pleasantly through his mind。 Ruben。
‘Please； Master Hillman； call me Ruben。’
The man’s head bobbed。 ‘Of course； Master Rybnik。 Of course。’
Zedd held out the cane。 ‘I find I have need of a cane； of late。 Could I convince you to part with this one？’
The man opened his arms in a wide gesture。 ‘For you； Master Rybnik； anything。 My nephew makes them； and I let him display them here for my discriminating guests。 But this one is special； and costly。’ He came forward at Zedd’s skeptical expression； lifting the cane。 He leaned close to speak confidentially。 ‘Let me demonstrate； Master Rybnik。 I don’t show this to anyone。 Might give them the wrong impression of my establishment； you know。 Here。 You see？ You twist； and here at the silver band； it es open。’
He separated the two parts a few inches to reveal a gleaming blade。 ‘Nearly two feet of Keltish steel。 Discreet protection for a gentleman。 But I’m not sure that for your simple purposes you would want such a costly 。。。’
Zedd pushed the thin blade away and gave a twist； the finely worked mechanism emitting a soft click as the parts locked together。 ‘It will do nicely。 I like its looks。 Not too flashy。 Add the cost to my tally for the room。’ Wealthy gentlemen weren’t supposed to ask the price。
Master Hillman bowed his head up and down。 ‘Of course； Master Rybnik。 Of course。 And a fine choice； I might add。 Qui