Casket of Souls

failed Myrhichia—” Alec paused and swallowed hard. “We can’t lose Illia!”
    A painful shiver crept up the back of Seregil’s neck at the thought, and a sick feeling cramped in his belly. “We’re missing something critical again, Alec. I feel like I’ve been blind in one eye all this time. Something is right there, staring us in the face, and we’re not seeing it. There’s more to them than mere beggars, especially that tall one. There’s something about him …”
    “You think you might know him?”
    “There’s just something about the way he moves. I don’tknow. I doubt that old woman is an old woman at all, though, the way she evaded us—and the old man that day in the Ring. And the way that one-eyed man went out the window and over the roof? I couldn’t have done it better myself.”
    They heard Tomin return with Elsbet within the hour and Alec hurried down to meet her. The young woman was still dressed in her initiate’s white robe and smelled of the dreaming herbs used in temple practice, but her dark eyes were clear.
    “What’s wrong?” she asked.
    “Your mother and Illia are here.” He took a deep breath and forced the words out. “Illia has the sleeping death.”
    “No!” Elsbet’s knees gave out and Alec caught her. “But how?”
    “We’re not completely sure, but we’re going to find out, I swear by the Lightbringer.” He took her hand. “They’re upstairs.”
    Holding her hand, Alec led Elsbet to the sickroom. Seregil was leaning against the wall outside the door, looking unhappy. He hugged Elsbet, then let her go inside.
    Kari was asleep in the armchair drawn up to Illia’s bed. Micum had spread a blanket over her, and her dark hair was combed and braided. He sat on the edge of the bed, stroking his daughter’s brow. Illia looked so much like her mother it made Alec’s heart ache. Elsbet hurried in and kissed her sleeping sister on the forehead. Micum stood and embraced Elsbet, stroking her dark hair and murmuring something in her ear that Alec couldn’t catch. She nodded, wiping at her eyes, then knelt by her mother. Kari woke and embraced her as they wept together.
    “Thank you,” said Micum, coming out to join Alec and Seregil in the corridor. “That was kind of you to think of.”
    Seregil nodded. “I thought Kari could use the support while we’re out hunting.”
    Micum’s eyes darkened dangerously and his knuckles went white as he gripped the hilt of his sword. “We were so damn close with the old woman!”
    Seregil clasped his friend’s shoulder. “We’ll find them, Micum. We will.”
    Elsbet suddenly appeared in the doorway, eyes wide with fear. “There are riders with torches in the courtyard. Bluecoats.”
    “Bilairy’s Balls! They’re coming to take Illia to the Ring. Everyone upstairs!”
    “You go. I’ll deal with them,” said Micum.
    Seregil swept Illia up in his arms and headed down the corridor to the secret staircase in the storage room around the corner, with Alec and the women close behind. Just as they reached the secret panel they heard the sound of the front doors being violently thrown open and men shouting.
    “I’m staying down to keep watch on Micum,” said Alec.
    “Try not to be seen, talí.”
    Alec peered around the corner of the corridor. The bluecoats came thundering up the stairs to confront Micum.
    “Stand aside, you,” the officer in charge barked, taking in Micum’s disreputable-looking clothing.
    “What’s this about?” Micum demanded, not moving.
    “Vicegerent’s orders. All those struck down with the sleeping death must be quarantined.”
    “Dumped in the Ring to die, more like it. That woman heard you were coming. She took the girl and scarpered.”
    “We’ll see about that,” the bluecoat muttered, shouldering past him. “Spread out, men, search the place from attic to cellar.” Then, to Micum, “Who are you and what are you doing here?”
    “I work for the innkeeper. He left me here to guard the place after everyone else cleared out. See that you don’t break anything or I’ll report you.”
    Alec retreated hastily to the secret staircase and closed the panel. An instant later he heard someone enter the room outside. There was the sound of the boxes and trunks stored there being shoved about, then a man’s voice: “No one here. Let’s move on.”
    He crept upstairs and found Seregil on guard beside the outer door, sword drawn. “Get your bow, Alec.”
    Alec tiptoed across the