“Ogrebukok,” Rylana muttered. That was what she’d been afraid of, that Vormalt was involved and that her arrival in the city had somehow spurred him into this behavior. “What’s he doing? Did he trip the wards? Is that what the glow is from?”
It occurred to her that Vormalt might be inside and in danger if he had stumbled into the magical security system. But if he’d sneaked in, he deserved punishment.
“I don’t know what made that,” the man said. “It wasn’t untilafterLord Vormalt went in. Nearly an hour after. The air got all still and creepy for a minute, and then the glow started up. I called for him, but he didn’t answer, and I wasn’t going in there.” His eyes rolled in the direction of the windows along the back of the castle, the blue glow still visible behind them. It was more intense through the glass than the faded beam emanating through the rooftop.
That was the library, Rylana realized, remembering Vormalt’s interest in it.
“Like I said, he didn’t answer my call,” the man added. “I’m not sure… He might not be all right.”
“Ihopehe’s not all right,” Rylana said, though she didn’t know if that was true. She didn’t have feelings for Vormalt anymore but didn’t necessarily wish him ill. “You work for him, I take it? Do you know what he’s doing in there? What’s his goal?”
Rylana supposed she could go in herself, find Vormalt, and question him, but he wouldn’t likely answer truthfully. She also didn’t know if the wards would acceptherpresence in the castle.
“He didn’t say, just that he’d been waiting a long time to bring the power and fortune to his family that it deserves.”
Rylana scratched her jaw. The way Vormalt had spoken of his archaeology passion and digs he’d gone on, she’d thought the centuries-old castle had something to do with that, that his interest in the library had to do with an old book he’d seen there when he’d been visiting her. But would an archaeological discovery bring power and fortune? Recognition in the field, maybe…
“How long were you supposed to wait out here?” Rylana asked. “Did he say he’d just be a few minutes or what?”
“More than that, I think. He needed some time for… he didn’t say. That’s all I know. I swear!”
“Do you believe him?” Sylin asked Rylana. “Or do you want me to apply more pressure?”
Rylana shook her head. They were lucky the nearest pillar hadn’t already sensed the man’s discomfort and started alarming.
“Let him go, please,” Rylana said. “We’ll find Vormalt, and you can apply pressure tohim.”
“Won’t that be a delight?” Sylin knelt back so the man could rise.
“He’s a bit of a popinjay. You might enjoy it.”
It took the man a moment to realize he was being allowed to stand.
“Take the horses, and return them to Vormalt’s estate,” Rylana told him. “The peacekeepers will be the ones to escort him home, so he won’tneeda ride.”
“Er, yes, ma’am. My lady. Miss, uhm.”
“Rylana. This is my father’s castle.”
“Oh,” he blurted and looked at Sylin.
“That’s his new security guard. She’s very efficient. Don’t show up here again.”
“No, my lady!” The man ran toward the gate.
“Security guard?” Sylin murmured.
“You didn’t think board at the boathouse would be free, did you?”
“Well, you mentioned that it wasn’t furnished and didn’t have amenities.”
“Yeah, but that lack excited you, didn’t it?”
“A little bit, maybe.”
Rylana headed back around the castle toward the front door. Sylin followed her, and they climbed the wide marble steps, stone gargoyles observing them from posts to either side. One of the twolarge mahogany doors stood open, and a faint and very inhuman moan wafted out.
“That’s not Vormalt,” Rylana said with certainty and stopped on the threshold.
