Xilanada - The Four Fold Dissonance/Part 9

The sweat-bath lounge of the Flower-Strewn Tiled Banquet House was a luxury few in Nexus would ever see, much less enjoy. Auris Leestra, Factor of the Guild, reveled in part because he knew few others could. It was his due, for a lifetime of good fortune and wisdom in all his dealings.

Sweat clung to his body, except where the steam made it trickle like the Yellow River as it flowed past Nexus. It was cleansing, this sweating. It relieved his tensions, his anxieties. It pulled out impurity, making room for his higher soul to swell in spiritual power.

Auris wasn't a priest, nor particularly devout toward any God he didn't need to be. But he did believe in improvement. In his last life, he must have improved mightily, to warrant the rich prosperous life of a Guild Prince. If he did well in this one, surely the Exaltation of the Dragons would be his reward.

He hoped he would be an Outcaste, though. Heaven knew he didn't want to have to listen to the Immaculate Philosophy from the cradle.

The curtains separating the entrance chamber from the Lounge parted as a serving girl swayed in, a silver goblet on a silver tray balanced neatly above her head. Auris liked how it made her breasts sway with her hips, obvious since she was as naked as he. Ah, the discrete privilege of the Flower-Strewn Tile. They knew how to please.

As this girl would please. He took the goblet, smiling at the rainbow-hued surface of crimson liquid. Bright Morning laced wine, chilled of course. He took a sip and smiled approvingly at the tingle. Then Auris met the girl's eyes and looked meaningfully at himself.

Discrete privilege indeed, he thought, as she knelt and attended to his needs. Her tongue was expert and fresh sweat broke out across his body even as the cool wine rolled down his throat. He sighed, enjoying his comforts. Until he realized that beyond a point, he just wasn't responding.

Auris gazed down at the woman with growing disgust. She was comely and increasingly desperate as she strove arduously to rouse his interest. But it wasn't enough. No girl was, since Captive Smile had vanished.

"Go on," he growled roughly. She stood fearfully, those swaying breasts now seeming as heavy as a cow, her full figure now that of a clumsy giant. All ardor in him evaporated in his rising temper. "Go!" he demanded, flinging the silver cup at her. She swept up the cup and exited with almost admirable grace. Yet what grace could there be in such an ox?

Captive Smile filled his mind again. The delicate, lovely face. The thick mass of gold curls. Her amazing blue eyes, like the sapphires on his ring. And that petite, shapely but thin body, almost child-like.

Auris had tried dozens of women since, but like the servant, they all seemed too lush. Too old. In his own desperation, he'd tried children and more than a few adolescents just come to their womanhood, or not quite come. Only they didn't please either. They really were children and he couldn't rouse himself for children.

No, he needed a woman who was child-like but still a woman. And none were close enough, except Captive Smile. None with her grin or grace or gold.

The Guild Factor found that he regretted pushing her so hard. His recent appointment to Nexus' regional council had gone to his head, that he could blame. Giddy joy had driven him to greater depths of depravity than even Captive Smile could handle, with or without her drugs. She had rebelled once. He'd punished her, depriving her of her vices. And she had fled.

What eluded him was how thoroughly she'd vanished. Women of her porcelain beauty didn't vanish. They were taken and used by others. And his network was great, great enough to find out who had her.

Only no one had. No one. He'd even checked with the Sijanese Funerists here, but they and their equally great connections could only prove she hadn't died.

So where was she?

Sweat dripped from his body but it didn't relieve this tension. Auris gave it up as hopeless and stood. He was met in the entry by his assistant, a woman named Evaelle. She barely paused at seeing the naked length of him. Evaelle had seen him so, many times. She enjoyed the unique privilege of complete safely from his interest. Auris had his standards, after all. Though she was pretty enough, in a Southern sort of way, he didn't mingle business with pleasure.

"It couldn't wait?" he asked, grumbling a little. He took his robe from a peg and settled it around him as he waited for her reply. When she had his eye contact, she spoke eagerly.

"There is a gentleman here to see you, sir. A Tepet Ajalat Malias."

"Tepet, eh? I don't like dealing with Dragon-blooded. Why can't this wait until tomorrow?"

"He was quite insistent on seeing you, sir. I'm not in a position to stop him."

"Of course," Auris said irritably. "I'll meet him in one of the private rooms."

He stepped through the door, Evaelle following on his heels. The beautiful tiled floor was strewn with flowers, the namesake of the Banquet Hall. It was soothing. The effect helped soothe his agitation away.

Auris moved through the hallways with a practiced gait, knowing where to go. He chose a room at random, because it amused him to exert that kind of power here and because it insured the anonymity of the coming conversation.

Evaelle went to fetch the Dragon-blooded, leaving him to enjoy the examination of the room. A fine teak desk was centered near the back of the room, fresh parchment and ink positioned perfectly in the middle of the smooth desk surface. Arranged near the front of the room were two couches on the right and left, with a third facing the desk. Potted plants, a floor tiled in green and gold like scales on a dragon, and the tastefully dark burnish to wooden walls and ceilings added to its visual appeal.

A choice between the desk and the couch. One would be more formal than the other, obviously. Auris preferred a level of informality in his dealings with powerful, important people but perhaps not with a Dragon-Blood. Exalts had too much strength as it was. No, let this Tepet Malias prove his value and then conversation of equality could begin.

Whatever his House rank, this Dragon-Blood was still a creature of the Realm and Factor Auris Leestra was a Prince among Guild nobility. This was his domain, his power, and the Tepet would acknowledge it.

Auris was comfortably enthroned behind the desk when the Dragon-Blood came in.

At first, Auris thought there'd been some mistake. The man walking toward him was old. Not ancient, of course, but in his early sixties at least. He couldn't be a Dragon-Blooded then. No Exalt looked that old, except for some of the stories of those possessed by the demon Anathema.

But then, a closer look changed his mind. This man, this Tepet Malias, wore the colors and insignia of House Tepet woven into his brocade jacket and his face was sharp with command. The room was filled with his force of will alone. Then again, there were the tell-tale signs. His features were a deep crimson and smoke trailed from the corners of his eyes.

A Dragon-Blooded indeed, an old one at that. And that made him far more dangerous than any other kind. An Exalt with centuries of experience and power, combined with the desperation that only came when one's lifespan was measured in months.

"Factor, thank you for meeting with me," Malias said soberly. He had the build and stance of a soldier but his dress and expression were nobler. His voice alone held subtle power, the resonance of a practiced orator. Auris marked it accordingly.

"My pleasure, Tepet Malias. What can I do for you?"

He really was curious. Auris specialized in slave labor, directly under Hierarch Hendrika Niesink. He had his dealings with House Cynis but they were infrequent. House Tepet had no interest in slaves at all, that he knew of. Unusual, yes, to say the least.

"I am interested in learning of an escaped slave of yours, Factor," Malias replied.

"You can't mean Captive Smile," chuckled Auris. "She's only one slave and hardly something to concern an Exalt of your stature."

"Perhaps. Tell me of her."

"How did you happen to hear of her?" Auris asked in return. It wouldn't do to let the Dragon-Blooded continue to dictate how this conversation was going to go.

"Your Guild has its spies everywhere, it seems," Malias said absently, looking about the room with a kind of vague interest. "I overheard an agent of yours inquiring with our doorman to my school on the matter. A standing search order for this missing slave of yours."

"I'm sorry you were troubled with such a...trifling matter," Auris said uncomfortably. "It's true I am looking for a missing slave but it was never my intention to interfere with the affairs of the Princes of the Earth."

"Nonsense," Malias said impatiently. "You are quite willing to do whatever it takes to reclaim this woman of yours, it seems. The doorman, and your agent, were most forthcoming about your instructions."

"What is it that you want?" Auris said comfortably, refusing to let this man's strange interest in his private affairs unsettle him anymore than his ability to reach into them.

"I want a more complete description than a child-like blonde in red silks," Malias said. Auris stared at him, trying to figure out what he was about. Eventually, the Exalt added "I may have her in my keeping."

That got Auris's interest.

"Her name is Captive Smile. She looks to be an adolescent, though she is actually somewhat older. She has waist-length blonde hair, quite curly. Her eyes...her eyes are a remarkable sapphire. I know for I have a pair of earrings made from sapphire for her to wear, because they match her eyes so well."

"I see. And what did she do?"

"She was a personal attendant," Auris said without shame. "I found her company and her countenance most pleasing."

"How long ago did she go missing?" Malias asked.

"A few months ago, now. I don't really expect that she still lives at this point, but I am willing to be surprised. You feel you may have her?"

Auris leaned back in his chair, familiar with games like these. Malias had an advantage over him, or so he thought. The Exalt knew he wanted his slave back badly but he didn't know why or exactly how much. Auris didn't know what this Dragon-Blooded wanted from him but he was willing to play conservatively until he knew the price the man wanted for the information.

The truth was that the mere thought of Captive Smile was making him hard.

"I may. There is a woman who teaches at my school now who fits your description. She arrived a few months ago, claiming no memory of who she was."

"Oh really," Auris said conversationally. It was almost certainly a lie but he still didn't know what Malias was up to. He just had to be patient.

"What do you plan to do with her, if she turns out to be the one you're looking for?"

"Why, treat her well. She is a...contractual employee of mine, it's true, at least in Nexus. But I find her quite valuable and was most upset when she disappeared."

"I'm certain you do. Does she have any identifying marks?"

"Marks?" Auris asked.

"I am not unfamiliar with the practices of the Guild," Malias said, a slight smile gracing his lips. "If she is as valuable as you say, you must have further means to see that people know she is yours."

"Very true, Prince," Auris chuckled. "In fact, she bears my crest of the Snake With Raiton Resplendent. It's a small tattoo, on the back of her right leg. Examine it and I'm certain you'll find out if she's the one or not."

"Thank you," Malias said. "I will send you word if she turns out to be yours. I have no desire to keep another man's property, whatever the laws of Nexus might say. May the Dragons bless you and prosper you...as they doubtless have already."

"Thank you, Tepet Malias," Auris said, bowing his head low. No, he didn't believe in the Immaculates but he did believe in spiritual ascension. And the favor of a being with more spiritual power was always better than its reverse.

The Dragon-Blood stood and strode to the door while Auris considered their interaction. He found he still had questions. Why had a Dragon-Blooded come all the way here, himself, to ask about a missing slave? For that matter, why was Captive Smile at this man's school at all?

"Tepet Malias," he asked, just as the Prince opened the door. The elderly Terrestrial looked back, impatience on his face again. "If she's Captive Smile, I would be most grateful for her return. If she's not...I assume this girl will go on working in your employ?"

A flicker of black rage crossed the man's features, controlled immediately as any Dynast would. It was still telling, though. Auris leaned forward, steepling his fingers as he looked at the Dragon-Blooded.

"Well, of course. Does my teacher's welfare matter, if she's not Captive Smile?"

"Not really. What does your teacher teach?"

"First Age Lore," Malias said, facing him squarely now. Auris chuckled at the joke. Then he stopped, realizing the Prince was serious. Incredulity was hard to keep from showing and he had a feeling Tepet Malias marked it anyway. The irritation that brought tension to that tight mask of control on the Dragon-Blooded's face eased into interest.

"I see," Auris said. "Well, thank you. May the Dragons bless you as well, Lord Tepet...as they doubtless have already."

Malias left without further comment or reaction, leaving Auris to his thoughts. So Captive Smile was at this man's school. It would be easy to find, knowing the Dragon-Blooded's name. The Terrestrial would be followed, naturally, just to make certain. And if the Dynast managed to evade his trackers...well, it was easy enough to put out the word on Captive Smile, result or no. Even easier to have his agents look for an elderly Terrestrial with those Aspect-Markings.

What was his slave doing at this Tepet Malias' school? What was she doing...teaching? What was going on here? Was she possessed?

Yes, he would have to keep an eye out for a blonde teacher at the Dynast's school. Independent investigation was called for, at the very least. He wasn't going to let Captive Smile go. Not when she was the only thing that could make him go.

He leaned back in the desk and smiled for a full minute. Then, he gathered himself and left to rejoin Evaelle. He had work to get back to, after all.