Evastany

26 IV

26 IV

I noted that everything is becoming disappointingly complicated. Naturally, then, Limbane chose this moment to show up.

Lim…bane of my life. We were friends, once, or something vaguely along those lines. That was back when I fondly imagined he might deal fairly with us, or tell us things that would be useful for us to know, and maybe refrain from double-dealing, manipulation and other such unfriendly activities.

No such luck. He is a Lokantor after all — a Master of one of their Libraries. I sometimes think that compulsive secretiveness and an uncontrollable need to manipulate others are prerequisites for the job, so Ylona should be a perfect candidate for it.

I digress. I was hoping never to have to deal with Limbane again, so I wasn’t best pleased to walk into the breakfast parlour this morning and find Limbane sitting at his ease in my favourite chair. He had availed himself of the dishes set out upon the sideboard and sat with a cup of tea before him, and a cup of cayluch. When I walked in, he merely raised his eyebrows at me and took another sip.

Limbane is the very image of an unthreatening old man. He’s like your favourite grandfather, all white hair, smiley wrinkles and drab clothing. It is probably his most dangerous weapon, because in truth he is nothing like you’d imagine from looking at him.

(An aside. Again, we cannot seem to do anything useful without eating through it! But this time, I disclaim all responsibility! I can only assume Limbane was hungry, and timed his visit accordingly).

‘Good morning, Limbane,’ said I with perfect dignity. I let none of my surprise or distaste show, because if he wanted to play at pretend this is a completely normal occurrence then by all means, I can do that too. I went to fill a plate with my own breakfast — I concentrated mostly upon such favourite delicacies as dried and stewed fruits, fried bread and syrup, whether or not they are unhealthy — and sat directly across from Limbane. I mean, I might have been privately hoping never to encounter his irritating face again, but if he insists upon invading my home in his urgency to see me, I want to be able to see him clearly. Who knows what nefarious mischief he’s planning.

I sat and sipped and supped and waited for the manipulation attempts to begin. He would suggest he has something that I need, perhaps, and try to persuade me that I cannot manage without him. He would dangle mysterious hints before me, suggesting that he knows all manner of things I am desperate to learn of and would share them… for a price. I mustered my resources, strengthened my will, dampened my desire to explode with temper in his aggravating face, and waited.

‘I need your help,’ he said.

I choked upon my tea.

‘Do you really?’ I said, trying to look elegant while I applied a napkin to the small river of tea flowing down my chin.

‘Yes.’

Typically, he did not elaborate.

‘All right,’ I said ungraciously. ‘Why do you need my help?’

‘Because Dwinal is set to become the kind of problem I need to not have, and I want someone to get in her way.’

‘You have a great many people at your disposal who are more powerful than I,’ I had to point out, much as I hate to admit to my own inferiority.

‘Dwinal knows all my people, and I need not explain to you the grave impracticality of anybody’s trying to masquerade themselves in that kind of company.’

‘So you want me to try?’

‘Of course not.’ Limbane looked suitably scornful of this idea, which I took as an uncomplimentary reflection upon my abilities. As such, my mood did not exactly improve. ‘I understand you have Dwinal’s grandson here.’

‘How do you know that?’ I asked without much hope of receiving an answer. He would say something fabulously and irritatingly vague like, ‘I have my ways,’ and I would punch him.

‘Word travels,’ he said, and I punched him.

Well, no, I didn’t. But I was tempted to.

‘Gio isn’t my puppet. If you want his help, go see him.’

‘He is in your employ. Besides, it is not just Gio’s assistance I am hoping for. Dwinal appears to have developed an overpowering interest in the partial Lokants of your world, and as such I imagine she would be more than happy to … talk with you.’

‘Dwinal?’ I repeated dumbly. ‘Isn’t it Ylona who’s kidnapping my partials?’

Limbane raised an eyebrow at me. ‘Is it?’

I took a deep breath, expertly mastering my desire to break something against his face, and took a calming sip of tea. ‘Why don’t you tell me what you know,’ I suggested in a deceptively mild tone, ‘and then tell me what you want. Then I can tell you my price, and we can proceed to a negotiation.’

‘Find out what Dwinal is doing,’ he replied, smoothly ignoring my first request. ‘I mean, find out what she is really doing, for while I have my suspicions, I find her to be annoyingly adept at hiding the truth.’

‘How frustrating for you,’ I murmured.

He did a little glaring, an expression I returned with a placid smile.

Tren came in. Do you notice the delay? Have I mentioned before that he sometimes takes longer to dress than I do? It’s true.

‘Limbane,’ he said, with a suspicious narrowing of his lovely eyes that I found heart-warming. ‘What a surprise.’

‘I have come here to grovel,’ said Limbane, which surprised me, because I hadn’t noticed a great deal of grovelling happening up to that point.

‘And Eva hasn’t thrown you out yet? She must be in a good mood.’ He bent to kiss me in passing, and retreated to the sideboard and its proffered dishes.

‘Or perhaps she wants something from me, too,’ suggested Limbane.

‘Of course not,’ I said. Immediate denial is always the best policy, even if — damn him — he was right.

‘Isn’t there something we want?’ Tren enquired. ‘There usually is.’

Well, fair. ‘I expect to be able to come up with something,’ I conceded.

‘You did mention a price,’ said Limbane.

If Tren tried to hide his grin, he didn’t try very hard. ‘Naturally.’

All right, I’m bored with Limbane. The rest of the conversation proceeded roughly as follows:

Me: I want unimpeded access to literally every piece of knowledge ever uncovered by the whole of Lokantkind, forever.

Limbane: No.

Me: Some of it, forever.

Limbane: No.

Me: Some of it, for a while?

Limbane: All right.

Me: I also want proper training in my Lokant abilities, and the use of a range of teachers for my school.

Limbane: … fine.

Me: Really?!

Limbane: Well… yes.

Me: You really are desperate.

Limbane: You have no idea.